House Speaker Paul Ryan accused Democrats of slowing down the negotiations to reach a critical government spending bill, and even failing to show up at meetings to hammer out a deal.
“The reason this bill has not been ready is because Democrats have been dragging their feet,” Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters Thursday. “Periodically, they have not been showing up to negotiations.”
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The two parties are engaged in finger-pointing over the delay in providing a five-month spending plan meant to last until the end of the fiscal year, which is Sept. 30.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the bill is hung up over dozens of so-called poison pill amendments that Democrats oppose, including a provision to overturn the fiduciary rule. Pelosi said she would only back the short-term measure if a larger deal is imminent, and Democrats have also threatened to oppose a weeklong spending bill the House plans to bring to the floor to buy additional negotiating time.
Government funding runs out on April 28.
Ryan suggested Democrats are purposely slowing down the process and said they would be squarely to blame for any government closure if they block a short-term bill.
“I would be kind of shocked Democrats would want to create a government shutdown because they have been dragging their feet,” Ryan said.
