Submitted by Fox First at Ten on March 7th
By JULIE PACEAP White House Correspondent
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama has invited the top House budget writers for lunch at the White House.
The White House announced Thursday Obama was having lunch in his private dining room with the Budget Committee chairman, Republican Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, and Ranking Democrat Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. Ryan was the GOP's vice presidential nominee last year.
The lunch follows Obama's dinner Wednesday night with a dozen GOP senators. The president is trying to build support among rank-and-file Republicans for starting talks on a long-term deficit reduction deal.
Ryan previewed a plan this week to erase federal deficits without raising taxes. Obama has insisted that higher taxes be part of any measure.
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