Illinois Sen. Shane Cultra says during a committee hearing that tax credits for parents of obese children should be on the chopping block.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. • A controversial comment by an Illinois lawmaker about taking away state tax deductions from parents who have obese children has drawn attention nationwide. Conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh, bloggers on Gawker, the New York Times and the United Kingdom's Daily Mail are among the outlets running with the story.

"It's the parents' responsibility that have obese kids," state Sen. Shane Cultra, R-Onarga, said Tuesday, when lawmakers took a shot at solving the state's obesity epidemic. "I think you need to look at a bill to take the tax deduction away for their child if he's obese."

He added: "In poorer families, they actually get money for their kids. I'd take that money away."

The Republican has not introduced legislation to deny parents the $2,000 standard tax deduction. He responded to the story Wednesday, saying in a statement that he was only kidding: