Obama to Lunch With GOP on Tuesday
Updated: 1:45 p.m. President Barack Obama will travel to Capitol Hill on Tuesday for separate luncheons with House and Senate Republicans, officials said on Monday. Obama plans to use the occasions to build on his promise to work in a bipartisan manner with the GOP and to drum up support for stimulus legislation. Obama has been getting increasing pushback on the stimulus from Republicans, who took to the weekend talk-show circuit to broadcast their misgivings about the measure. GOP leaders insisted on a White House meeting with Obama last week, along with top Democrats, where they pressed for tax cuts as part of the package. Congressional Republicans are expected to use the face time with Obama to air their concerns about the economic stimulus package. They also may use the meeting to float their own stimulus proposals. Republicans have been angling for more tax cuts and less spending in the package. If he wants to have a successful meeting, it had better be a give and take, a senior Senate GOP aide suggested.