Sen. Johnson calls dinner with President a good first step - WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WKOW) -- President Obama made headlines last week when he invited a dozen Republican Senators to dinner, on his tab, in an effort to ease the thaw between the White House and GOP lawmakers.

Sunday morning, on ABC's "This Week", Johnson was asked about that dinner. 

"This is a good first step. I mean, you have to start meeting with people," Sen. Johnson said. "You start developing relationships, you've got to spend a fair amount of time figuring out what we agree on first."

Differences on spending and taxation have left Congress in gridlock, with Democrats and Republicans blaming each other.

President Obama plans to make trips to Capitol Hill this week to meet with members of both parties.