The Hill: 'Obama extends olive branch to Cantor after passage of jobs bill'

In a show of leadership, Virginia's Eric Cantor did the almost impossible and will see the reward for his hard work.

In a White House ceremony this week, the House JOBS Act (Jumpstart Our Business Startups), a bill making it easier for small businesses to raise capital, will be signed into law by President Barack Obama. There were times, however, when some were doubtful it would get to this point.

Eight months ago the president was sharply at odds with Republicans, as noted by Alexander Bolton in The Hill:

At one heated meeting, Obama warned Cantor, “Don’t call my bluff” and walked out of the room. Senate Democrats often criticized Cantor during the tense talks for having a thin record of legislative accomplishment.

Cantor, the Virginia Congressman who is House Majority Leader, led the battle for passage of the bipartisan jobs bill, and now the president has extended an olive branch by inviting Cantor to attend the signing ceremony.

Over the months, the Majority Leader never gave up:

Cantor has spent months mulling ways for the president and Republicans in Congress to work around staunch disagreements to spur the sluggish economy.

He remembers sitting in a cabinet room meeting with Obama in March of last year when the president told him bluntly there would be areas of disagreement, specifically healthcare and raising taxes.

In recent months, the second-ranking House GOP leader has focused on the areas where policy differences are less pronounced.

“Knowing that we’re going to have an election to resolve some of those bigger differences, there are certainly areas where we can work together on and jobs and growth being one of them,” he said.

Read more in The Hill's article of how this legislation was finally passed and will now cross the president's desk.