Gov. Bredesen criticizes lawmaker for 'rats' comment
1:17 PM, Nov 12, 2010

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The Associated Press FILED UNDER
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Gov. Phil Bredesen says it was a "very poor choice of words" for a Republican state lawmaker to liken illegal immigrants having children in the United States to rats multiplying.

The Democratic governor, who leaves office in January, told reporters in Nashville Friday that he "would never refer to any human being in that way."

Rep. Curry Todd of Collierville made the comments at a legislative hearing earlier this week during a discussion a federal requirement to extend prenatal care to women regardless of their citizenship status.

Todd said that means illegal immigrants can "go out there like rats and multiply."

Todd later told The Associated Press that it was wrong to use those words, but told WHBQ-TV in Memphis that he doesn't plan to apologize.

http://www.wbir.com/news/article/142277 ... |optionb|s

TN lawmaker likens illegal immigrants to ’rats’
Lucas L. Johnson II, Associated Press
Posted November 11, 2010 at 6:40 a.m.
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NASHVILLE — A Republican lawmaker likened illegal immigrant births to rats multiplying while he was questioning state officials at a committee hearing.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/nov/1 ... ants-rats/