Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, talks to a journalist before a hearing by the House Committee on Elections, which he chairs, Jan. 25, 2008, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Updated: Thursday, 12 Mar 2009, 5:47 PM CDT
Published : Thursday, 19 Feb 2009, 12:20 PM CST
AUSTIN (AP) - A heated exchange broke out between a Texas lawmaker and a lawyer of Chinese-American descent following an immigration policy debate.
Attorney Harry Joe called Republican Rep. Leo Berman of Tyler "despicable" and "evil" after Berman spoke Wednesday about his bill calling for illegal immigrants to relocate to "sanctuary cities." Berman responded to Joe by shouting "go home" and told Joe he could "kiss my [expletive]."
The argument was overheard by a news reporter and several spectators after a panel discussion at a conference on the University of Texas campus.
Joe later apologized for his remarks, but Berman declined to comment further. Berman has helped author eight bills aimed at illegal immigrants. They include provisions to challenge birthright citizenship, bar illegal immigrants from public universities and tax money orders sent between Texas and Mexico.
blog comments powered by Disqus
Email This
Print This
View Story on a Single Page