Inhofe says Schumer engaged in ‘class warfare’

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) said Wednesday that Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has engaged in "class warfare."

Inhofe made his comments in response to Schumer's earlier remarks on the Senate floor, where the New York lawmaker criticized Republicans for the deep spending cuts in their 2012 budget proposal.

“I have to say I don't agree with what [Schumer] said, and that comes as no surprise to my friend from New York,” said Inhofe.

“A little class warfare is healthy now and then and we had a little bit of that in the last 20 minutes,” said Inhofe, referring to Schumer who had been speaking on the Senate floor for just over 20 minutes.

Inhofe also rebuked Schumer for his contention that the U.S. ought to follow the lead of other countries when it comes to efficient delivery of healthcare.

Schumer said, "We have to preserve the benefits to people but make the cost of delivering them less expensive. That's what every other country in the world does. That's what we have to do.”

But Inhofe insisted Schumer wanted to do away with the parts of America that makes it unique and more prosperous than other countries.

“They all envy America for its system of freedom, of health delivery, and you wonder sometimes if — if government-owned — if government-run healthcare is better," the Oklahoma lawmaker said.

The Senate adjourned at 6:32 p.m. on Tuesday and is set to return at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

-- updated at 6:55 p.m. on Tuesday