Franken grills Thune on health care reform claims

Sen. Al Franken grilled his Republican colleague from South Dakota, Sen. John Thune, over what Franken said were inaccurate statements regarding the health care reform bill currently being debated in the U.S. Senate.

“You know, again, we are entitled to our own opinions; we’re not entitled to our own facts,” Franken said to Thune. “If you’re going to hold up a chart that says when taxes kick in and when benefits kick in, you say 1,800 days, you better include the benefits that do kick in right away.”

Thune responded, “Did the senator from Minnesota, when I was pointing out the chart, understand the point I was making – that the tax increases start 18 days from now, and that the benefits, the spending benefits under the bill which are the premium tax credits and the exchanges that are designed to provide the benefit that’s delivered under this bill don’t start until 2014?”

Franken shot back, “Does the senator understand that spending benefits start right away?”

Thune’s retort: “If the senator missed the point, I can get the chart out again.”

Franken demanded, “I asked a question, senator. I yield to you for a question. I’m asking a question.”

Eventually Thune continued to argue and then walked out on the exchange. Here’s the video courtesy of Think Progress: