Montana lawmaker apologizes for ‘slip’
HELENA – Rep.-elect and current state Sen. Ed Butcher apologized Thursday for referring to severely developmentally disabled students as “vegetables” at a recent education meeting, but accused Democrats of trying to score political points and “launching personal attacks” over the comment.
“I readily admit the term I used is not appropriate in our modern ‘politically correct’ culture and I rescind its use,” Butcher said in a written statement. “I certainly apologize for my terminology.”
However, he told the Associated Press Thursday that Democrats were using his “poor choice of words” to try to discredit the entire state Republican Party.
“This shouldn’t be a political thing,” he said. “My comment had nothing to do with the Republican Party or (House Speaker-elect) Roy Brown. … They didn’t say it. I did, and I regret it.”
Brown, R-Billings, said he was aware of Butcher’s written statement.
“I think he could have been a little more apologetic,” Brown said. “But he did apologize and I will take it as that. And he says he’s going to watch what he says in the future, so that’s what we’ll go by.”
Lee Newspapers first reported Wednesday that Butcher made the comment about developmentally disabled students Dec. 14 at a meeting of central Montana school administrators. Some lawmakers and school administrators called for his removal from the House Education Committee.
Butcher said his comments came during a conversation with school administrators over the recent state Supreme Court ruling that found the state’s school funding system unconstitutional.
He said he commented at how “handcuffed” many school districts are to meet federal requirements to educate developmentally disabled students.
Butcher said one person in attendance was “highly offended by my remark,” and a “rather heated exchange” followed.
In attempting to explain his position that local schools may not be the best setting for the most severely developmentally disabled, Butcher said “that’s where the word ‘vegetable’ slipped out.”
“This controversy erupted over my concern that disabled children receive care appropriate to their development, rather than forcing them into a mainstream education system which is forced to siphon money and resources out of other programs,” he said in his written statement.