On its website and in an email Monday, House Speaker John Boehner’s office said President Obama needs to take personal responsibility for the drought ravaging the Midwest.
Obama, “continues to blame anyone and everyone for the drought but himself,” reads a release from Boehner’s office posted online and distributed to reporters Monday. The quote was attributed to Boehner himself in a Financial Times story. The online post and the press release came from Boehner spokesperson Kevin Smith.
The drought became a centerpiece of the presidential race Monday after Obama accused Paul Ryan of being part of the reason a needed farm bill hasn’t passed Congress. Meanwhile, the White House announced $170 million in federal assistance aimed at alleviating farmers’ suffering from the lack of rain.
UPDATE:
The post on Boehner’s website was changed after this post was published, and this addendum added:
UPDATED @ 4:30 PM ET: Clarifies that the president is blaming others for failing to respond to the drought when he has yet to urge Senate Democrats to adopt a bipartisan drought-relief measure passed by the House.
