White House Press Secretary Jay Carney on Wednesday said President Barack Obama briefly touched base with congressional leaders regarding their upcoming budget meeting while attending a morning dedication of a statue honoring the late civil rights icon Rosa Parks.
“It’s my understand that he had a brief conversation with them,” Carney said during a White House press briefing.
Obama is scheduled to meet Friday — when the automatic spending cuts are slated to take effect — with congressional leaders. Carney said the White House hopes Republicans like House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) will have a “constructive discussion” on sequestration and show a willingness to offer a legitimate compromise.
“The fact of the matter is…compromise here in Washington can usually be measured by a willingness of one leader to put forward proposals that demonstrate tough choices by his side or her side,” Carney said.
