Tea Party Republicans “have made it nearly impossible for GOP leadership to strike a deal on the budget, Senate Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) charged on Tuesday,” The Hill reports.
"The influence Tea Party elements are currently exercising over the process puts the chance of compromise seriously in doubt," Schumer said on the Senate floor. “They think compromise is a dirty word. They think taking steps towards avoiding a shutdown means being the first to blink.”
Schumer said Democrats made an offer last week to meet Republicans halfway but that Republican leadership, which was inclined to accept the offer, rejected it because the House whips warned members of the Tea Party would rebel.
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