ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A Minnesota legislator is under fire for comments he made about bird flu.
Rep. Ron Erhardt wore a lab coat and stethoscope on the state House floor Tuesday.
The Edina Democrat told lawmakers he felt flu symptoms over the weekend after eating turkey. He then held up a jar marked "bird flu vaccine" and said it would slow the virus down.
A strain of bird flu has led to the deaths of more than 5 million Minnesota birds in recent months.
Lawmakers in both parties immediately criticized Erhardt for what they saw as a tasteless joke.
The Minnesota Jobs Coalition wants Erhardt and the head of the House DFL caucus to apologize.
(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
DFL Lawmaker's Bird Flu Comments Criticized
/ CBS Minnesota
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A Minnesota legislator is under fire for comments he made about bird flu.
Rep. Ron Erhardt wore a lab coat and stethoscope on the state House floor Tuesday.
The Edina Democrat told lawmakers he felt flu symptoms over the weekend after eating turkey. He then held up a jar marked "bird flu vaccine" and said it would slow the virus down.
A strain of bird flu has led to the deaths of more than 5 million Minnesota birds in recent months.
Lawmakers in both parties immediately criticized Erhardt for what they saw as a tasteless joke.
The Minnesota Jobs Coalition wants Erhardt and the head of the House DFL caucus to apologize.
(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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