White House Says No to Deficit Summit

President Barack Obama’s deficit commission recommended he hold a summit meeting with congressional leaders early next year to develop a plan to slash the long-term budget deficit. But after House Democrats’ negative reaction to the recently-consummated tax deal, the White House decided to just say no, Politico reports.

Members of the commission offered their suggestion in a meeting Thursday morning with White House budget director Jack Lew (pictured) and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, who “didn’t exactly jump at the idea,” a person who attended the meeting tells the news service.

“What’s the quote that somebody said during the financial crisis? ‘I think we’ve had about all the fun we can stand’ on congressional summits,” a White House official says.