Senator Lindsay Graham (R. I’m going to call you.
When Hassan submitted her amendment, Graham exclaimed, “This is false and ironically gets a bad name.”
Graham’s outburst in Hassan prompted Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) to urge South Carolina senators to take strict caution not to challenge fellow senators’ motives.
Murphy cautioned Graham and all senators not to “inflict upon other senators or other senators actions or motives unbefitting or unbecoming of a senator.”
The warning comes after Hassan, who faces a tough reelection race this November, has proposed an alternative to his amendment to impose a tax of 16.4 cents a barrel on imported petroleum products and foreign oil refined in the United States. It was issued after Graham accused him of doing so.
“They don’t let you do this in professional wrestling. If you think people are this stupid, you’d be sadly wrong,” Graham yelled to the floor.
Graham warned Democrats on Friday that the debate and vote on the budget adjustment would be “hell.”
Graham accused her co-workers of a bogus play on Sunday morning after Hassan urged them to vote on what she called her own amendment to impose surcharges on oil barrels.
The main difference is that Graham’s amendment was set at a threshold of 50 votes and could have passed if one of the Democrats voted “yes,” whereas Hassan’s The bill had to pass the threshold of 60 votes and therefore could not have been part of the bill. No 10 Republican votes.
“What she’s doing is trying to override the provision she just voted against, but it needs 60 votes. [vote] for abolishing the gas tax she just voted against [repealing,]Graham declared, accusing Hassan of trying to “look like voters.”
“What you’re doing is deception. It’s dishonest. And we’re going to call you out,” Graham swore.
That direct attack prompted Murphy to intervene.
“Senators are encouraged to speak to third parties through their chairs,” he said.
“Senators, please be careful to address all remarks through the third-party chair and be mindful of Rule 19,” he said.
Murphy, as chairman at the time of the heated debate, was able to order Graham to take his seat.
Senate Rule 19 allows a presiding official to “order” a senator who directly attacks or insults a fellow senator.
If such a formal reprimand occurs, the offending senator’s words are read out to the Senate, and the presiding speaker can order the senator to sit down and be quiet.
After Murphy’s warning, Graham calmed down.
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