* y0 m. _8 Z) K, a, rJune 7, 2007, 11:58PM - _# g$ x4 |" p7 X& I0 @0 QAlabama Senate ends with a bang, and blow) x8 G9 T; _- b# T8 j
+ z9 A6 V1 h( p! Y4 U& M+ i4 pMONTGOMERY, 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.+ B, ]6 A+ d# c+ q9 t; V
7 Z3 B1 ~$ w; y5 ]Republican Sen. Charles Bishop claimed that Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron called him a "son of a (expletive)." $ N, q# V* y. n1 ?: u& ?; D 7 \/ i- Z7 R* Y+ T"I responded to his comment with my right hand," Bishop said. Alabama Public Television tape captured the punch., Q/ s, ~. y* s
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Barron did not comment and went into a closed-door meeting with other Democrats. , Y* D1 C" r% k4 l! z, [5 s: P* {7 g6 G' I( d
Sen. Vivian Figures went into the meeting carrying first aid supplies, but said Barron was not hurt.