, O, ?6 J' N, M$ g5 O8 d& b" v: P) A- R8 r4 Z June 7, 2007, 11:58PM + }7 i, C% T+ I% VAlabama Senate ends with a bang, and blow % X/ s$ A; g$ O + J* M: H" K* n8 A: D2 hMONTGOMERY, 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 r9 r. j- Q) S' I* \" c2 l R) {' D: @: K6 L- v7 P
Republican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)." 4 f( ]9 e) P3 {5 x1 q& p$ v' x1 T8 @3 |0 A- p3 m0 t
"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch./ I( b5 X7 s& E+ z6 w" d/ ]
2 W" k( G: Q5 s {+ y/ f
Barron did not comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats. y2 l' T$ \: c9 Q1 S
2 N/ C* @+ |3 z! C: A
Sen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but said Barron was not hurt.