Obama disputes GOP version of immigration call

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says he's surprised that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is accusing him of failing to work with Congress on immigration.

Cantor said after the two men spoke by phone Wednesday that Obama still hasn't learned how to work effectively with lawmakers.

Obama told reporters during a press conference Thursday that they actually had a "very pleasant conversation" and that he called the Virginia Republican to wish him a happy Passover. Obama says there was a mismatch between Cantor's stance in private and public.

Obama supports a bipartisan Senate bill that has stalled in the House, where Republicans prefer a piecemeal approach. Obama said in a statement before their call that Republicans are behind the times on immigration.