Lawmaker's Words on Immigrant Births Draw Scrutiny

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee lawmaker likened illegal immigrant births to rats multiplying in remarks while he questioned officials at a legislative committee hearing.

Republican Rep. Curry Todd was asking Tuesday if a state-funded program checked for citizenship before paying for health care. He was told that the federal government didn't in cases of prenatal care because any child born in the U.S. is a citizen.

Todd said that means the immigrants can "go out there like rats and multiply." No other lawmakers on a state fiscal review committee responded to his remarks.

Todd told The Associated Press later Wednesday that he could have used other word choices, saying "I was actually wrong, and I admit when I'm wrong."

But he insisted the issue must be addressed.