Texas State Legislator Uses Ethnic Slur During Hearing

AUSTIN (AP/CBSDFW.COM) — Texas Republican lawmaker Larry Taylor of Friendswood used a Jewish slur during a legislative hearing to tell officials not to cheat people who make legitimate property insurance claims.

According to The Quorum Report, which covers the Texas Legislature, Taylor said, "Don't nitpick, don't try to Jew them down."  Then without pausing, he added, "That's probably a bad term."

Taylor later issued an apology.

Taylor said Thursday the Texas Windstorm Insurance Agency should pay legitimate claims.

The apology says the slur was inadvertent and called it a poor choice of words.Taylor is the House Republican Caucus leader and is running for a seat in the Senate. A message seeking comment from House Speaker Joe Straus of San Antonio, who is Jewish, was not immediately returned.

(Copyright 2011 CBS Local Media.  The Associated Press contributed to this report.)