0 Z" R3 O0 p- QJune 7, 2007, 11:58PM& j% c% n o( u9 t Alabama Senate ends with a bang, and blow 3 t/ M% P5 e+ A7 |: F) x/ Q ' d1 ^4 X% U: Z C9 x* Q1 vMONTGOMERY, 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. ) `! A' V2 G: U1 C; j1 H6 {4 m( J: U- m, s
Republican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)." ( L- q+ x+ y; B: N/ K! a L) r, u5 ~# n# z9 }& B& W: H" B8 k& J* N
"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch. / J4 r& u K3 g) U: e$ v7 V* Y1 A1 k/ H! I( [2 {
Barron did not comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats. a. i) [' w4 _: z0 ]. C ; \1 c) U9 g6 l) Y* P8 X& zSen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but said Barron was not hurt.