WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker John Boehner says that President Barack Obama's recent outreach to congressional Republicans is a "hopeful sign" that progress could be made in breaking the recent impasse over how to reduce the federal deficit.
Boehner says at a news conference that it was interesting that after months of "campaign-style events" around the country to promote his agenda, that the president was now sitting down to talk to Republican lawmakers.
The Ohio Republican expressed optimism that the Obama's contacts with Republicans could be productive, adding that the president will not get very far if he insists on raising taxes.
Obama had dinner Wednesday with about a dozen GOP senators, and on Thursday was having lunch with the top House budget writers, including Republican Paul Ryan.
