After more than a week of bipartisan outreach by President Obama, at least one Republican expressed optimism on reaching a budget deal.
“There’s definitely a grand bargain that can be put together,” Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said to The Daily Rundown’s Chuck Todd Thursday. “That means pro-growth tax reform and revenue from higher growth not higher taxes combined with entitlement reform.”
Hoeven encouraged the president to continue his Congressional outreach.
“The president needs to stay engaged in Congress as we work on these issues,” said Hoeven. “As long as he stays working with us we have a better chance to solve the problems we face.”
The North Dakota senator’s optimism comes less than 24 hours after House Republicans gave mixed reactions to the president’s visit with their caucus.
“Republicans want to balance the budget; the president doesn’t. The Republicans want to solve our long-term debt problem; the president doesn’t,” said House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. “But having said that, [the meeting with President Obama] was a good start.”
President Obama’s outreach to House Republicans came on the same day that he spoke with the newly reorganized committee Organizing for Action leading some to question the president’s motives to reach out on Capitol Hill.
Xuan Thai