President Barack Obama is meeting with Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill to get their help in passing a broad range of proposals that are part of his second-term agenda.
The meeting Tuesday comes on the first of three days of president trips down Pennsylvania Avenue with partisan caucuses in both chambers.
The visits come as the government is operating under broad spending cuts and under the prospect of a shutdown later this month.
Before the president even got his foot in the door - Republican Paul Ryan unveiled a new budget blueprint that is full of things Democrats don't like, including a repeal of the president's health care law. Ryan says his plan slashes $4.6 trillion to balance the budget in ten years, without raising taxes. "This is an invitation to president and Senate Democrats to come together to fix these problems."
White House spokesman Jay Carney says the math in Ryan's plan doesn't add up. Carney says it will either raise taxes on the middle class or fail to reduce to the deficit.
Senate Democrats will unveil their own plan Wednesday. That will likely include more spending on domestic programs and tax hikes on the wealthy. Their side, led by Senator Harry Reid, is already slamming Ryan's plan. "This budget reflects same skewed priorities republicans have championed for years."
Carney says Obama also wants to discuss immigration reform and gun control among other priorities that require congressional action.
Obama plans to meet with House Republicans Wednesday. And he is scheduled talk to Senate Republicans and House Democrats Thursday.
(The Associated Press)
