Listen to the story here.
During a Senate Finance Subcommittee meeting, Republican Senator Pete Goicoechea of Eureka told his fellow lawmakers he was worried about creating a “tar baby” in state policy.
The term is considered by many to be a racial slur that stems from the stories of Uncle Remus, a post-Civil War fictional character, who has more recently been seen to perpetuate Black stereotypes and whitewash the atrocities of slavery.
Goicoechea said he meant no offense by using the word.
“It s a term I ve used most of my life, ever since I was a little kid,” he said. “I clearly didn t intend to. mean to offend anybody, and if I did I sincerely apologize, and I ll pay a lot more attention in the future.”