House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of relinquishing his leadership role by waiting for President Trump to dictate the terms of a gun control measure.
“That is to abdicate your role as a leader,” the California Democrat told reporters Thursday.
She added, “Its not even obstructionist. It’s just abandonment of your role as leader.”
Pelosi’s criticism followed McConnell’s announcement that the Senate would not take up a gun control measure until it receives a proposal from the White House.
That way, McConnell told reporters this week, any bill that moves through Congress would not risk running into a presidential veto.
“The president’s signature is an important part of that,” Pelosi said. “But to say we won’t even make a suggestion, that we are not even representatives of the point of view of 90 percent of the people support … responsible background checks.”
Pelosi has been urging McConnell to take up a House-passed bill to expand background checks to all sales and gun transfers, with narrow exceptions for immediate family members.
That House measure has very little GOP support, however, and Trump said he’d veto it.
The White House sent over a draft proposal that would expand background checks to commercial sales and it has already been rejected by the NRA.
Democrats have frequently criticized McConnell for failing to take up progressive measures passed by the House. McConnell, meanwhile, has touted his role in blocking the partisan bills.
Democrats are trying to increase pressure on McConnell, particularly on the background check bill.
“If you care about gun safety and saving the lives of our children, call Mitch McConnell,” Pelosi said.
