WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama plans to meet with House Democratic leaders Thursday to discuss the status of ongoing bipartisan deficit reduction talks. The meeting comes as Democrats want the president to rule out Medicare benefit cuts as part of any budget deal.
The White House said the meeting will address deficit reduction through a "balanced framework," a term the White House uses to describe cuts in spending coupled with increased tax revenue. Republicans have rejected talk of tax increases, though Senate Republicans did vote to end ethanol tax subsidies.
Scheduled to attend the meeting are Vice President Joe Biden, and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Steny Hoyer, the party's second in command, assistant Democratic leader James Clyburn, and Rep. Chris Van Hollen, a participant in the Biden-led budget negotiations.
