By JM Rieger and Steven T. Dennis

Speaker John A. Boehner pushed back on the notion of defense spending exceeding budget caps at his news conference Thursday, later adding if President Barack Obama wants to negotiate a new budget deal, “all he has to do is ask.” “He hasn’t asked. It’s as simple as that,” Boehner said. “We’ve got a plan. We’ve got a plan that gives him what he wants for defense and keeps the caps in place. If he wants to have a budget negotiation, all he has to do is ask. I’m a pretty reasonable guy.” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest has said budget talks must be led by Congress with assistance from the administration.