(Newser)
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President Obama has invited Paul Ryan to come have lunch with him at the White House today, the latest step in his post-sequester charm offensive. "I appreciate the president's invitation, and I look forward to our conversation," said the House Budget Committee chair in a statement, per USA Today. It reports that they won't be dining a deux: The committee's top Democrat, Maryland's Chris Van Hollen, will join.
Obama is trying to revive hopes of a "grand bargain," and Ryan would be a powerful ally in that push. But Ryan's budget, which is due within days, is expected to resemble his past efforts, which Obama has vigorously criticized. In particular, it'll include his controversial Medicare voucher idea, Politico reports. The powwow comes after Obama's dinner last night with a number of GOP senators at the upscale Jefferson Hotel. John McCain and Tom Coburn each emerged from the meeting flashing waiting reporters a thumbs up, the New York Times reports; beyond that, we know precious little about what transpired.
