* Y8 c4 Z, n! t& nJune 7, 2007, 11:58PM ' \4 G" j1 H% I( Q4 O x0 D4 V& |Alabama Senate ends with a bang, and blow ! z/ `" M6 k/ W2 ~: s1 j; q9 x+ ]" o& b5 D& \
MONTGOMERY, ALA. — Simmering tensions in the Alabama Senate boiled over Thursday when a Republican lawmaker punched a Democratic colleague in the head before they were pulled apart.0 h+ Z2 V7 |. ~9 h/ a) D5 H1 [7 `
! K1 }" w1 O8 G, ^+ _Republican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)." 1 a% ?" E) ~% C . v* T3 ~1 Q C4 Y"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch.4 E2 N: g8 `3 ~% H' c+ U% x5 R4 s
" ]1 M* O' ?& O3 n% w& LBarron did not comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats. 9 q: x6 B- z8 h5 v, o( ` ~. v/ o, H9 O' @1 d( z6 S# l
Sen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but said Barron was not hurt.