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Obama and Boehner Set Golf Date

President Barack Obama and Speaker John Boehner will tee up for a round of golf on June 18, the House Republican’s office confirmed Friday. The announcement comes just days after Boehner called on the president to become personally involved in debt ceiling negotiations.

While speaking with a small group of reporters Wednesday, the Ohio lawmaker also said he was ready to engage in negotiations so a resolution could happen within the month.

“The president should engage himself. … I’m willing. I’m ready. It’s time to have the conversation. It’s time to play large ball, not small ball,” Boehner said Wednesday. Earlier that day, most Members of the House Republican Conference met with Obama at the White House to discuss the country’s debt and budget.

The Obama administration has said Aug. 2 is the deadline for raising the debt ceiling, otherwise the country will default on its financial obligations.

It was unclear where the two will play golf or if others will join them. Obama frequently golfs at Andrews Air Force Base on weekends during the warmer months of the year.

Boehner is also an avid golfer — he tied for 43rd place in Golf Digest’s ranking of Washington’s top 150 golfers, while Obama tied for 108th place.

Boehner told “Fox News Sunday” in January that he would be up for discussing the nation’s debt with Obama over a game of golf. “I’m sure I’ll have to give him strokes,” Boehner joked.

Anna Palmer and John Stanton contributed to this report.

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