It's almost a clich to complain about MPs acting like children in the House of Commons. Time and time again, we hear stories about teachers who are embarassed to bring their school groups to watch the proceedings.

Now, thanks to Twitter, a whole new kind of heckling is possible, even as the House is sitting.

Today, the House is debating C-50, an Act to amend the Employment Insurance system.

Liberal MP Michelle Simson (Scarborough Southwest, Ontario) and Conservative MP Paul Calandra (Oak Ridges-Markham, Ontario) are both Twitter enthusiasts, who evidently send out tweets even as they sit in the House of Commons listening to and participating in debates.

Here's the Twitter war from earlier today, in full -- and because these things matter to 13-year old girls and likely MPs too, you should know that Simson started it (based on something Calandra said in the debate, in response to Liberal MP Hedy Fry's arguments):

MichelleSimson EI debate emotional. OakRidges Mkhm MP Calandra ought to be ashamed of his behaviour in the HOC. Disgraceful. #lpc

PaulCalandra Debate in the House on EI, Liberal Stinson MP in Scarborough (but a constituent of mine) thinks standing up for unemployed is wrong....

PaulCalandra Simson thinks standing up for Canadian soldiers is wrong, instead we should follow the Liberal example and call an election no one wants.

PaulCalandra You be the judge - todays debate - http://bit.ly/wPF4F

If that last link doesn't work for you -- here's something better. Video of the exchange that so offended Simson in the first place.