President Barack Obama says he is optimistic that Democrats and Republicans will come to agreements on several issues in the coming weeks.

Obama says the most important issue lawmakers must resolve is making sure taxes don't increase for middle-class families when Bush-era tax cuts expire at the end of the year. Obama says that while he believes Congress will reach an agreement, that doesn't mean there won't be some political posturing along the way.

Lawmakers from both parties are working on a deal that would extend tax cuts for everyone, including the wealthy. Obama has said the tax cuts for top income earners should not be made permanent.

Obama's remarks came Thursday as he met with 20 newly elected governors at the Blair House.