Obama: 'Ready to work' in bipartisan way

BALTIMORE, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama challenged Republicans to work with Democrats and the administration to improve the economy, lower the deficit and improve healthcare.

"I'm ready and willing to work with anyone in the spirit of good will," Obama told House Republicans during an issues retreat in Baltimore. "The differences between the two major parties on most issues is not as big as represented ... but (has gotten) caught up in the political game and that isn't helping."

But while extending an olive branch, Obama chastised Republicans -- and Democrats -- for framing issues that casts the opposition negatively instead of looking out for the electorate.

"Are we going to be examining each of these issues based on what's good for the country ... or are we going to be trying to position ourselves so that come November, we're able to say, 'The other party, it's their fault?'" Obama said.

When introducing Obama to the audience of about 300, House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio, noting that Republicans offered lots of proposals that were disregarded, handed the president a compilation of the proposals, titled "Better Solutions."

Obama defended his economic stimulus package, his latest effort to provide small businesses with tax incentives and his healthcare proposal, noting that at the core of each are remedies Republicans normally back.

As an example of partisan rhetoric, Obama cited some of the healthcare debate last year on a bill he characterized as centrist at its core.

"But if you were to listen to the debate," he said, "you'd think that this thing was some Bolshevik plot."

Obama did accept responsibility for not having structured healthcare discussions between House and Senate leaders in a way that it could be aired.

During a question-and-answer session, Obama said he'd look at a Republican proposal calling for across-the-board tax cuts.

"But if you're calling for just across-the-board tax cuts and then on the other hand saying that we're somehow going to balance our budget, I'm going to want to take a look at your math and see how that works," the sometimes feisty Obama said.

Obama said he wanted a "serious conversation" about a line-item veto being proposed by Wisconsin Reps. Paul Ryan, a Republican, and Russ Feingold, a Democrat.

"I think there's not a president out there that wouldn't love to have it," Obama said. "I don't like being held up with big bills that have stuff in them that are wasteful but I've got to sign."

He turned the discussion to a pitch for earmark reform, saying congressional members should "show discipline on both sides of the aisle."

Afterward, Boehner said he looked forward "to perhaps seeing that the House leadership on the other side of the aisle follows the lead of the president and we can begin to see actually some progress towards making things happen for the American people."