“You don’t own me, I pay your salary” – Rice professor Douglas Brinkley argues with Congressman Don Young

Friday, while testifying about his passion — protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from drilling, Dr. Brinkley met a strong critic on the House Resources Committee.

Chairman Don Young, a congressman from Alaska, called Dr. Brinkley “Dr. Rice” and used the word “garbage” to describe part of Dr. Brinkley’s testimony. The professor responded saying, “It’s Doctor Brinkley. Rice is a university. I know you went to Yuba College and didn’t graduate.”

Young, who is visibly angry in the video of the exchange, shouted back, “I’ll call you anything I want to call you when you’re in that chair. You just be quiet.”

Brinkley, of course, didn’t take those comments lightly or back off.

“You don’t own me,” the professor said. “I pay your salary. I work for the private sector and you work for the taxpayer.”

From KHOU and Chron

If you’re interested in the full back-story the MinnPost has a good write-up.

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