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Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck GrassleyCharles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleySenate Democrats press GOP chairmen over Ukraine allegations Spending bill would extend expired tax breaks Grassley urges White House to help farmers in year-end tax talks MORE (Iowa) on Wednesday accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellTrump’s GOP allies huddle at White House on eve of impeachment vote Schumer says he’ll ask for votes on calling Mulvaney, Bolton to testify Schumer on Trump’s Pelosi letter: ‘He’s obviously under a great deal of duress’ MORE (Ky.) of blocking progress on his bill to lower drug prices, escalating tensions between two powerful GOP senators. 

Asked why more Republican senators have not signed on to his bill to lower drug prices, Grassley told reporters, “Because McConnell’s asked them not to.”

“Leadership doesn’t want it to come up,” he added.

Grassley has been pushing a bill for months that he negotiated with Sen. Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenSenate Democrats press GOP chairmen over Ukraine allegations Hillicon Valley: Election security funding gets mixed response | Facebook tests community fact checking | Lawmakers look to block Chinese pick for IP organization | Secret court judge rebukes FBI over surveillance warrants New federal funds for election security garner mixed reactions on Capitol Hill MORE (Ore.), the top Democrat on his committee. But many Republican senators, not just McConnell, have objected to a provision in the bill that would limit Medicare drug price hikes to the rate of inflation, something many Republicans view as a “price control.”

But President TrumpDonald John TrumpWhite House counsel didn’t take lead on Trump letter to Pelosi: reports Trump endorses Riggleman in Virginia House race Lisa Page responds to ‘vile’ Trump attacks: ‘Being quiet isn’t making this go away’ MORE, who says lowering drug prices is a priority for him, supports the Grassley-Wyden bill. 

Grassley on Wednesday accused McConnell of hindering Trump’s policy priorities. 

“The president wants it,” Grassley said. “Senate majority leaders historically, if you’ve got the president of the same party, tend to be spokesmen for the administration, not against the administration.”

A McConnell spokesman did not directly respond when asked about Grassley’s comments but pointed to his comments to Politico in September, at which time he said the Senate’s path forward is still “under discussion” and the chamber is still “looking at doing something on drug pricing.”

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiWhite House counsel didn’t take lead on Trump letter to Pelosi: reports House panel sets guidelines for historic impeachment vote Protesters rally against Trump in multiple cities on eve of impeachment vote MORE (D-Calif.) is pushing for a drug pricing package ahead of a May 22 deadline for renewing certain expiring health programs, which could provide an opening for the Grassley bill, but any agreement in an election year will be even tougher. 

The Hill reported earlier this month that McConnell has said he thinks Grassley’s bill is bad policy. McConnell is also loath to bring up bills that split GOP senators. 

Grassley’s comments on Wednesday, though, escalate his public disagreement with the leader of his party in the Senate. 

Grassley said he has not spoken directly with McConnell about the bill, noting he is still working to get more Republican co-sponsors. 

He also said he hoped Trump himself would put pressure on the Senate to pass the bill, not just the White House advisers who have mostly been leading the push so far. 

“We have a White House doing everything the White House can do about this issue except for the president speaking up about it,” Grassley said. 

Grassley predicted more GOP senators would back the bill early next year when they need a popular issue such as lowering drug prices to run on in the election. 

But he said he did not think Republicans would lose the Senate even if his bill does not pass. 

“Don’t tell McConnell that,” he added.