U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said on Sunday that if Democrats employ the parliamentary procedure known as reconciliation to push the health care bill through, all major legislation currently being considered by the Senate would be threatened, including a climate bill that the Republican Graham has been working with Senate Democrats on passing.

In terms of his relationship with the White House and other Democrats on issues like climate and immigration, Graham both praised and condemned President Obama. Graham said on ABC's "This Week":

“I have been working with Lieberman and Kerry. We have come a long way on the climate and energy issue. This is one issue where the President has been great. He is saying all the right things to give us a chance to become energy independent and clean up the air and create jobs.

But when it comes to health care, he has been tone deaf, he has been arrogant and they are pushing a legislative proposal and a way to do that legislative proposal is going to destroy the ability of this country to work together for a very long time. And that's not necessary."

Graham has been an unexpected ally in the Democrats push for a climate and energy bill, a move which has opened him up to a barrage of criticism from within the party ranks in his home state of South Carolina.  But if Democrats do use reconciliation, Graham appears to be ready to drop his support for action on climate.

“If they do this, it is going to poison the well for anything else they would like to achieve this year or thereafter," said Graham.

Hat tip: The Hill