0 w, D+ [) Q6 h# ? # B9 K$ w% [# H) q2 YJune 7, 2007, 11:58PM 5 s% e4 a* Y* Z9 G. l* JAlabama Senate ends with a bang, and blow: G0 V7 A6 B }3 q: L1 F
$ m; N2 S! x! O7 a7 r9 M4 v$ g" BMONTGOMERY, 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.! O* t8 T& e7 ]& o4 _
. d( o- ^" m; m" _Republican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)." ( R4 C9 B( x2 X4 b# f/ V; D% n1 X* r' B8 T* g
"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch. ) S$ t: i+ \6 U( \! j. r3 d0 {! p1 Z4 W1 Y# l. k1 d- g& z4 J
Barron did not comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats.+ @/ I5 F, H- t
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Sen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but said Barron was not hurt.