President Obama hosting "Slurpee Summit"

WASHINGTON (CNN) – President Obama is readying for what the news media are now calling the "Slurpee Summit." Emerging from his post-election sit-down with his Cabinet Thursday, President Obama said he called Republican leaders John Boehner and Mitch McConnell, and Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to come to the White House November 18 – at the start of the congressional "lame duck” session – for talks.
The President said the discussions would be substantive, not "just a photo-op." White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the get together will be a mix of getting down to business, as well as a social occasion. The group will discuss legislative items in a working session at the White House, but then have dinner in the private residence upstairs. It will be a congressional party of eight, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin, Republican House Whip Eric Cantor, and Senate Republican Whip Jon Kyl. Gibbs said the bipartisan summit would be "the first of many" efforts to get the White House and Republicans on the same page.

One of the issues that "will take up a big chunk" of the bipartisan session, Gibbs said, is taking action to extend the Bush tax cuts, set to expire by the end of the year. Some Republicans are lobbying the White House to extend the tax cuts for everyone, not just for families making less than $250,000 a year as Mr. Obama favors.

Gibbs said the President "would be open to that discussion." Gibbs also said the President would be open to serving Slurpees for dessert!