President Barack Obama’s dinner tour continued on Wednesday, with House Democrats joining him to discuss an array of issues.
The House Democratic Caucus met with Obama at the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, according to Pool reports. Politico notes that nine members were in attendance: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Rep. Rob Andrews (D-N.J.), Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.), Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) and Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.).
According to the Associated Press, the dinner lasted around two-and-a-half hours, with education, immigration, gun control and the economy among the primary issues. The Boston Marathon bombings investigation also was discussed, and the meal was paid for by the Democratic National Committee.
“People were upbeat. Everybody wanted to rise to the challenge of addressing these issues,” Van Hollen told the AP after the dinner. “People are clear-eyed and realistic about the challenges on both the policy and political front.”
Back in March, Obama met with Republican senators in the same venue, with attendees including Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.). Chambliss was also a part of Obama’s Monday golf game with Republican senators, where he hit a hole-in-one.
Later in April, Obama followed suit with Democratic senators at the Jefferson Hotel. His first bipartisan event came a week after that, when he invited all 20 female U.S. senators together for a meal at the White House.
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