After latest budget battle, Obama calls senators looking for common ground

U.S. President Barack Obama participates in his first cabinet meeting of his second term in the Cabinet Room of the White House in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama, unable to persuade Republicans to accept higher taxes, is attempting to cobble together what he calls a "common-sense caucus" among lawmakers to help resolve U.S. budget woes and push his legislative agenda. On Monday and in recent days, Obama has made individual phone calls to a number of senators in a search for common ground on $85 billion in budget cuts that went into effect last week, as well as his top priorities like deficit reduction, gun control and an overhaul of U.S. immigration laws. …