Obama, Boehner Discuss Budget

House Speaker John Boehner told President Barack Obama in a three-minute telephone call Wednesday morning that he remains hopeful that a deal can be reached to avoid a government shutdown, his office said.

"He told the President he remains hopeful a deal can be reached and that talks would continue," Boehner's office said in a prepared statement.

(Reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Sandra Maler)