President Barack Obama told House Democrats Tuesday he wants them to work out their differences on a stalled energy reform bill and is willing to allow compromises to get the legislation passed.

Democratic members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee met with Obama for 90 minutes at the White House and lawmakers gave Obama an earful about the cap-and-trade provision in the bill, which will hit manufacturing plants, oil refineries and some utilities with much higher operating costs by requiring them to pay more to pollute. Members said Obama was open to their concerns and told them to do what it takes to work out an agreement.