House Speaker Kevin McCarthy shifted blame for a looming shutdown from his divided conference to President Biden and the Senate, saying the president must answer for his border crisis.
Despite the sharp rhetoric, Mr. McCarthy, California Republican, said it would be “very important to have a meeting” with Mr. Biden soon before the government partially closes.
The House has struggled to pass spending measures, moving only one with just four days left until the shutdown.
One of the options for a stopgap bill from the House would include the lower chamber’s marquee border bill, which has not been taken up by the Senate and has been decried by the Biden administration.
Mr. McCarthy is now playing a political game of chicken with that legislation.
“The president, it’s in his hands so he can keep the government open by taking action on the border;” the speaker said. “And then let’s sit down, finish the bills we haven’t and let’s work.”
• Alex Miller can be reached at amiller@washingtontimes.com.
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