Republicans send mixed signals on Obama outreach over budget

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Republicans are sending mixed signals in agreeing to meet on Wednesday with President Barack Obama for talks over the budget impasse.

On the one hand, many Republicans who long have chided Mr Obama for failing to engage their party on the nation's biggest problems are applauding his newfound outreach - part of a concerted effort by the president to mend ties with Congress in hopes of reaching a grand compromise on fiscal issues.

On the other hand, neither side is backing down from entrenched positions that have prevented deals in the past.

On Tuesday, House Republicans offered their new budget proposal, crafted by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, who ran against Mr Obama as the 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee but had lunch with him last week as the president initiated his congressional "charm offensive."