http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/327923-boehner-mum-after-white-house-meetingBoehner mum after White House meeting
By Justin Sink - 10/10/13 06:13 PM ET
House Republicans were silent after a meeting with President Obama at the White House on Thursday to discuss a proposal to extend the debt ceiling for another six weeks.
The two sides discussed a plan unveiled Thursday morning by GOP leaders for about an hour.
A contingent of 20 Republican leaders, including Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), left the West Wing without speaking to reporters after the meeting.
Boehner also ignored shouted questions from reporters upon returning to Capitol Hill.
Republican leaders have said the debt ceiling hike could buy time for a longer negotiation over budget cuts.
But Republicans seemed unwilling to include legislation that would also reopen the government. Following a White House meeting between the president and Senate Democrats earlier today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said negotiations on a broad budget deal are “not going to happen” before the government reopens.
Earlier Thursday, White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama was encouraged by the House GOP offer and that Obama would likely sign a six-week debt-ceiling hike. But he hedged on whether Obama would agree to the longer-term budget negotiations if the shutdown continued.
