Obama, GOP lawmakers break bread but not ice
WASHINGTON — Disagreement wasn’t supposed to be on the menu at the White House luncheon designed to bring together President Barack Obama and Republicans who will soon control the next Congress. Instead of cooperation, a fresh dispute found its way to the table.
Meeting Friday with congressional leaders from both parties, Obama laid out three areas where they could work together before the end of the year: emergency funding to combat the Ebola outbreak, approval of a federal budget and quick action on spending to fight the Islamic State militant group.
House Speaker John Boehner had a quick reply, his office says: The president should back a Republican jobs bill as a starting place for bipartisan action. In addition, GOP leaders warned Obama not to take unilateral action on immigration policies. But the president stood by his plan to act.
Still, there were some signs of thawing.
Boehner’s office says the House speaker told Obama he was ready to work with the president on a new authorization for military force against the IS militant group if Obama worked to build bipartisan support.
The White House announced soon after the lunch ended that the U.S. would send as many as 1,500 more troops to Iraq to serve as advisers, trainers and security personnel as part of the mission. Obama also is asking Congress for more than $5 billion to help fund the fight. The troops would not deploy until legislation passes and the president signs it.
The two-hour meeting was tense at times, according to a senior House Republican aide.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid barely said a word, the aide said. At one point, as Boehner was making an argument on immigration, Obama responded that his patience was running out and Vice President Joe Biden interrupted to ask how long Republicans needed, the aide said.
A Democratic congressional aide said Obama was courteous but firm in asserting his prerogatives as president on immigration and other issues.
