In the midst of partisan turmoil and the highly contested sequester, those who ate dinner with the president Wednesday night, describe the evening as positive conversation.

Twelve GOP Senators were invited to dine with President Obama at the Jefferson Hotel, just blocks from the White House, to discuss building productive ways to solve the country's fiscal problems.

Among the attendees, was Indiana Senator, Dan Coats, who spoke with Newscenter 16 on Thursday. Coats couldn't say why or how he was selected by the president, but said he appreciated the invitation nonetheless.

"This was an opportunity to sit across from him eyeball to eyeball, pour out my hear in terms of why I'm back in the Senate, what I'm trying to accomplish, and how concerned I am about our fiscal future," said Coates. "Last night I think the president started a process that hopefully will translate into realistic, serious efforts in terms of putting together a plan that will bring us back to fiscal health."

In addition to Senator Coats, other attendees included John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Ron Johnson, Tom Coburn, Kelly Ayotte, Mike Johanns, Pat Toomey, Saxby Chambliss, John Hoeven and Richard Burr.