House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio walks of the floor of the House chamber on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011, in Washington. The House rejected legislation to extend a payroll tax cut and jobless benefits for two months, drawing a swift rebuke from President Barack Obama that Republicans were threatening higher taxes on 160 million workers on Jan. 1. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republican leaders are renewing their call for the Democratic-led Senate to bargain with them and try to end the stalemate over extending a payroll tax cut and jobless benefits.

House Speaker John Boehner and other top House Republicans met Wednesday, saying Senate negotiators should join them in a search for compromise.

Minutes earlier, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released a letter to Boehner urging him to bring the House back to Washington. Reid wants the House to approve a bipartisan Senate-approved bill extending the tax cut and jobless benefits for two months, and then bargain over a yearlong extension.

House Republicans want to extend the tax cut and jobless benefits for a year.

The payroll tax paid and jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed ends Jan. 1.