Graham Blasts Reid's 'Cynical Ploy' On Immigration

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is lashing out at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for apparently putting immigration reform ahead of climate change as a Senate priority.

Graham, of South Carolina, is one of three senators co-sponsoring a comprehensive energy and climate bill scheduled to be unveiled on Monday. But in a letter Saturday to Senate leaders, Graham said he will withdraw his support for the climate measure if Reid moves forward on immigration first.

Graham called Reid's apparent shift toward immigration "a cynical political ploy" that could derail months of effort on climate change.

Reid, a Nevada Democrat, has said he wants to pursue legislation offering legal status for many unlawful immigrants before tackling climate change.