GOP leaders surprised by White House entry into budget-cutting talks

President Obama and Senate Democrats called for the White House to lead talks with congressional leaders over a bill funding the government for the rest of fiscal year, a move that appeared to catch Republican leaders off guard. The move came in the wake of Senate passage Wednesday, on a 91-9 vote, of a two-week continuing resolution that will expire March 18.

Democrats' announcement of a beefed-up White House role appeared aimed at forcing Republicans to the table and changing the dynamic of a fight that the GOP had been winning. Vice President Joe Biden will assume the role of lead Democratic negotiator. White House Chief of Staff William Daley and Office of Management and Budget Director Jacob Lew will join Biden in talks with Republicans and congressional Democrats.

With Obama expected to quickly sign the short-term bill, which cuts $4 billion from current spending levels, all parties called for a swift agreement on a long-term funding measure. That raises the question of whether Senate Democrats and House Republicans can agree on cuts that each can sell to their members.

Both sides maneuvered Wednesday to set terms of talks. Republicans want the House's seven-month continuing resolution with $61 billion in cuts as a base. Democrats described that bill as dead in the Senate.

Despite urging a deal, House Speaker Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., balked at what they said was a surprise invitation to participate in White House-led talks, noting that the House has already passed a seven-month continuing resolution.

"We just heard about this suggestion," McConnell said Wednesday. GOP aides said Democrats announced the proposal for talks publicly before contacting GOP leaders privately.

"How do you start a conversation where one house has spoken and the other house hasn't?" Boehner asked.

Both said they were open to talks.

A key question will be whether Boehner will meet Democrats part-way on spending cuts, or even can, given the potential for GOP freshmen to revolt against concessions. Republicans last month passed a seven-month continuing resolution with $61 billion in cuts and numerous policy riders that Democrats say isn't going any further.

"House Republicans' $61 billion in cuts that they proposed is unacceptable," Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Chairman Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said at a briefing. "It does not have the votes in the Senate and the president has already said he would veto it."

The two-week spending bill contains about the same level of cuts, prorated, as the long-term House bill, but it achieves them by targeting earmarks and accelerating program cuts Obama proposed for fiscal 2012. Senate Democrats reiterated Wednesday that they consider that approach acceptable as a basis for negotiation, even as they insisted they won't accept the level of cuts included on a long-term basis.

Senate Appropriations Committee Democrats, with leadership staff, are working on a seven-month funding bill that also targets earmarks and accelerates program reductions Obama has proposed. But that bill is likely to include less than $30 billion in spending cuts from current levels, leaving a gap the sides must bridge.

House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., said Wednesday the Senate should move toward the House number. "Congressional Democrats and the administration have recognized the need for spending cuts -- and agreed with our math on the level of the cuts," Cantor said.

Republicans appear able to stand pat on a long-term bill, because they now appear able to indefinitely force through two-week measures that force their preferred level of cuts. Reid, with 53 Democratic votes in the Senate, cannot force through his preferred spending bill if Senate Republicans oppose it.

Reid said he plans to bring his seven-month bill to the floor but only after first submitting it to the White House as part of talks. Democratic aides said they expect at least one more two-week bill before a deal is reached.