Republicans courting moderate Dems

WASHINGTON, March 30 (UPI) -- Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives are courting moderate Democrats in an effort to reach consensus on fiscal issues, one Democrat says.

Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., told The Washington Post the conversation with House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has not yet reached specific issues. He described the talks as taking place at "10,000 feet" and said McCarthy was "feeling us out."

On March 15, the House passed a bill to extend government funding for three weeks. The bill had the support of 186 Republicans and 85 Democrats, but 54 Republicans voted against it.

McCarthy and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, apparently see that vote as a marker on the way forward, the Post said. While Republicans have a 23-vote margin in the House, the most fiscally conservative members are unlikely to vote for any bill that could conceivably pass the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the minority whip, told the Post Tuesday the March 15 vote could be an "anomaly." But he said Republicans cannot pass a budget without support from some Democrats.

"John Boehner can't get something done without us," he said.