“For six months Ive tried to enter into formal budget negotiations with Paul Ryan, only to be repeatedly denied permission to negotiate by Ted Cruz and the tea party,” said Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray, D-Wash. “Now, a week into a government shutdown that he could end at a moments notice, Speaker Boehner is simply trying to distract from his constantly changing list of demands.”
via 19 Times Democrats Tried to Negotiate With Republicans – NationalJournal.com.