But Pence, Boehner and other Republicans warmly praised the president’s effort to elicit their views and to work with them in addressing the economic meltdown.

Boehner, who was among a bipartisan, bicameral group of leaders who met with Obama Jan. 23 at the White House to discuss the stimulus, said members had urged the president to accept more of their tax-cut ideas, arguing that section of the package is not large enough. Republicans also objected to the size and details of the proposed spending in the measure.

Flexible on Details

While Obama didn’t promise major changes to the package, GOP members said he showed flexibility on some issues.

“The president did say he has some concerns over the spending proposals he sees in this bill,” Boehner said.

Participants said Obama took about 10 questions. Peter J. Roskam, R-Ill., had one of the more charged exchanges with Obama, after complaining that House Democratic leaders had shut out GOP amendments and seemed to be taking a much less compromising approach than the negotiated bipartisan approach suggested by Obama.

“He said he would be open to hear about tax breaks for small business. I might get back to him,” Roskam said.

Obama asked Republicans to speak up if they thought the provisions of the stimulus would not work. Todd Akin of Missouri responded by saying he doubted that the spending in the package would have a timely effect. “I told him my concern was two-fold. The first thing was the assumption that a whole lot of spending was necessary. The second one was that the tax cuts he’s talking about are not tax cuts that are immediately helpful,” Akin said. Akin said Obama replied that they had a different economic point of view.

Participants said Obama strongly defended refundable tax breaks aimed at low-income families that are in the stimulus measure.

Several participants, including Scott Garrett of New Jersey, reported that Obama said he would be open to a corporate tax rate cut if it was coupled with the elimination of tax loopholes. “It’s the beginning of a dialog,” Garrett said. “I was pleased to hear he would consider a corporate rate cut.”

Garrett said Obama’s comment came up in a question and answer session after he made brief remarks. “It’s impressive; he’s only been in office for a week, and he’s already meeting with Republicans. He looks you in the eye when he talks to you,” said Donald Manzullo of Illinois.

The House Republicans continued to grumble, however, about being ignored by Democratic leaders who drafted the bill headed to the floor.

“House Democrats have completely ignored the president’s call for bipartisan cooperation,” said Pence.

“We urged him to challenge Democrats to sit down with Republicans,” said Rep. Kevin Brady , R-Texas.

The Republican strategy of criticizing their Democratic counterparts while praising the popular new Democratic president ignores the fact that the House bill was hashed out over many weeks of negotiations between House Democratic leaders and key Obama advisers.

Some GOP members acknowledged as much, saying they doubted that Obama would be willing to make big changes in the stimulus package.

“I think this package has his brand on hit,” said Rep. C..W. Bill Young, R-Fla.

Democrats Sit Tight

Obama had no meetings planned Tuesday with congressional Democrats, but Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. joined his former Senate colleagues at the weekly Democratic policy lunch.

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer , D-Md., criticized House Republican leaders for announcing their opposition to the House bill even before their meeting with Obama.

“I think its unfortunate, saying you’re going to vote against you” even before the meeting, he said.

Although he did not flatly rule out modification of the legislation, Hoyer said Democratic leaders aren’t inclined to make the sort of major changes that Republicans want. “I hope the bill stays in the ballpark we’ve set,” he said.

During a conference call with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas , a Republican, said,“If we were designing a plan we might each do it differently, and I certainly share the concern of the mounting federal debt. But economists say that in a serious recession, this kind of stimulant investment is needed. We really need to get this help to the states.”

Pelosi said, “We’re trying to get as much balance in it as possible, but it has to meet a standard. Does it create jobs.  . . .  Does it do so in a transparent way? We think it does. Let the legislation begin. Today it comes to the floor. Tomorrow we’ll pass it.”

Bennett Roth and Colby Itkowitz contributed to this story.