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A US Republican has been captured on a live microphone at the end of a hearing, ripping into President Donald Trump and making fun of a party colleague who had been critical of her on health care.
Susan Collins, a moderate from Maine, was overheard complaining about Mr Trump and his proposed 2018 budget, which slashes spending and plans deep cuts to domestic agencies, food stamps, Medicaid, highway funding and medical research.
"Whenever there was a grant, they just X-ed it out, with no metric, no thinking about it, no nothing," she told Democratic senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island.
"It's just incredibly irresponsible."
"I think he's crazy," Senator Reed says. "I mean, I don't say that lightly as as a kind of a goofy guy."
Senator Collins adds, "I'm worried."
Senator Collins was also snagged making unflattering remarks about Republican Blake Farenthold, from Texas, a day after he blamed "some female senators from the north-east" for blocking healthcare legislation.
He said he wished he could challenge them to a duel, "Aaron Burr-style".
"Did you see the one who challenged me to a duel?" Senator Collins asked.
"I know," Senator Reed replies.
"Trust me. Do you know why he challenged you to a duel? 'Cause you could beat the shit out of him."
"I don't mean to be unkind but he's so unattractive it's unbelievable," Senator Collins said.
Senator Collins then mentioned a widely circulated picture of Senator Farenthold wearing baby blue pyjamas with yellow ducks on them, with a big grin on his face, as he stands next to a scantily clad young woman.
The audio followed a meeting of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.
Senator Collins is the chairwoman of the committee and Senator Reed is the ranking Democrat on the panel.
Senator Collins, in her fourth term, is a moderate known for working with Democrats and announced last year she would not vote for Mr Trump for president.
She previously expressed concerns about deep Medicaid cuts in the GOP bill.
Senator Farenthold's office declined to comment, but Senator Collins said she had received an apology from the congressman, and offered one in return.
"Neither weapons nor inappropriate words are the right way to resolve legislative disputes," she said in a statement.
"I received a handwritten apology from Rep Farenthold late this morning. I accept his apology, and I offer him mine."
Senator Reed's office said he was just, "letting Senator Collins know he's in her corner".
He has said it publicly and privately. Senator Reed's spokesman, Chip Unruh, said in a statement: "the Trump administration is behaving erratically and irresponsibly. For the good of the country, the President needs to start focusing on the budget".
AP
Topics: world-politics, donald-trump, united-states
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