Lankford: Obama, GOP Not ‘Saying Yes,’ Not ‘Saying No Either’
President Obama, House Republicans begin talks on reopening government
By Chris Casteel Published: October 11, 2013
WASHINGTON — House Republicans on Thursday offered President Barack Obama a short-term increase in the nation’s debt limit as a way to open broader budget talks, and both sides began working on a way to reopen the government.
A late-afternoon meeting at the White House between the president and a group of House Republicans apparently led to the first major crack in the hardened positions each side has taken during the ten-day shutdown.
Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, who was one of about 20 House Republicans who met with the president, said in an interview, “We are talking.”
“He’s not saying yes. We’re not saying yes. But we’re not saying no either.”
Lankford declined to disclose details of the talks, but he said talks would continue into the night and that the goal was to reopen the government, temporarily lift the debt ceiling and begin broad negotiations on the budget.