Republicans know they’re in a tough situation with their bill — and they’re blaming the Senate. In the meeting with the outside groups, Republican leadership aides told the groups’ leaders that their hasty handling of the Violence Against Women Act is the fault of Senate Democrats — namely Chuck Schumer of New York, according to several sources present.

Democrats, the GOP says, pressed them to take up the legislation before they were ready to try to show they were shaky on women’s rights issues.