White House says President Obama plans to work with new House Speaker Paul Ryan

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama reached out to Rep. Paul Ryan the day before the new House speaker assumed his duties and wished him well.

That's according to White House spokesman Josh Earnest, who says Obama has spoken in the past about his respect for Ryan despite significant differences they have on policy. He says Obama is hopeful they'll be able to work together.

Earnest says that with the GOP in control of Congress and with a Democrat in control of the White House, anything making it through the legislative process will have to be bipartisan.

The spokesman says Obama hopes Ryan will lead the House "in that spirit and with that fact in mind."