An argument between a lawmaker and an audience member at a district town hall meeting this weekend created a scene reminiscent of August's recess.Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D-Texas) got into a heated dispute with an attendee who suggested he was not telling the truth about the Democrats' healthcare reform legislation.
In a video that was posted online Sunday, the female audience member can be heard interrupting Rodriguez, urging him to "tell the truth" about he Congressional Budget Office analysis of the sweeping legislation.
"Don't accuse me of not saying the truth," Rodriguez replied.
A voice from the crowd can be heard saying, "Excuse me, that's not appropriate," but it is not clear the same person who started the exchange said it.
"It's not appropriate to also determine [inaudible]," Rodriguez fired back, slamming a rolled up stack of papers he was holding onto a nearby table. "I'm not going to take any [inaudible]. If you want a dialogue in a civil manner, don't say that I'm not saying the truth."
Rodriguez's office has not responded to a request for comment.
August's recess featured many arguments between lawmakers from both parties and town hall attendees amid the debate over healthcare reform legislation. Protesters often showed up en masse to demonstrate both for and against the legislation.