Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyGOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power The Hill's 12:30 Report: Ginsburg lies in repose Top GOP senators say Hunter Biden's work 'cast a shadow' over Obama Ukraine policy MORE (Iowa) on Wednesday accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHawley warns Schumer to steer clear of Catholic-based criticisms of Barrett Senate GOP set to vote on Trump's Supreme Court pick before election Harris slams Trump's Supreme Court pick as an attempt to 'destroy the Affordable Care Act' 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.

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Grassley has been pushing a bill for months that he negotiated with Sen. Ron Wyden Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Democratic senators ask inspector general to investigate IRS use of location tracking service 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 Trump Donald John TrumpBiden says voters should choose who nominates Supreme Court justice Trump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Pelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act 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 Pelosi Nancy PelosiPelosi: Trump Supreme Court pick 'threatens' Affordable Care Act Sunday shows preview: Lawmakers prepare for SCOTUS confirmation hearings before election Will Democrats attempt to pack the Supreme Court again? 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.

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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.