Obama To Hash Out Lame-Duck Schedule With GOP, Dem Leaders

President Obama will meet with Republican and Democratic leaders of Congress at the White House on November 18.

Speaker-in-waiting John Boehner (R-Ohio), the woman he will replace, current Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and both Senate leaders Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have been invited to discuss Congress’ legislative agenda during the lame-duck session, which lasts until January when new members take office.

Obama told reporters after a meeting with his cabinet on Thursday that voters want Congress to work together on creating jobs and eliminating wasteful spending.

“They don’t want us standing still,” Obama said. “They don’t want us engaged in gridlock.”

The agenda for the meeting will center on what to do about the expiring Bush tax cuts and how best to lower the nation’s unemployment rate, currently at 9.6%. Obama also hopes to convince Reid and McConnell to compromise on ratifying the new START Treaty between the U.S. and Russia.

The President added that he has invited newly elected Republican and Democratic Governors to meet with him at the White House on December 2.