Staff and wire report

A Republican Tennessee lawmaker says he supports getting rid of higher education because he argues it would cut off the "liberal breeding ground."

Sen. Kerry Roberts of Springfield called for eliminating higher education while speaking about attending a recent abortion legislative hearing on his conservative radio talk show on Sept. 2.

Roberts specifically called out one activist who testified in favor of protecting abortion rights. He asserted, without evidence, that the woman's beliefs were a "product of higher education" and claimed that getting rid of higher education would "save America."

In a Facebook post Monday night, Roberts claims the statement was an exaggeration, not meant to be taken literally.

"A week ago, I went on a rant on The Kerry Roberts Show calling out higher education as a liberal breeding ground and calling for it's elimination," the Facebook post reads. "My listeners clearly understood the humor and hyperbole of it."

Roberts also questioned funding higher education with tax dollars. He voted in favor of the state's $38.5 billion budget earlier this year, which included money for colleges and universities.

On Tuesday morning, Roberts issued statement saying his comments about eliminating higher education were "clearly hyperbole."

Still, he said, he stands by his general critique of liberal arts education.

"Many higher education institutions have unquestionably become liberal breeding grounds where radical values and hatred for America are fomented," Roberts said.

"Conservative parents are often spending (or borrowing) tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars to participate in an elaborate bait and switch. They sign up their children for education and advancement and instead receive intimidation and indoctrination."

He said over time, "leftist policies grow more aggressive."

"It’s time for conservatives – whose taxpayer dollars significantly fund these institutions of higher education – to rise up and demand the restoration of balance in our halls of higher education," Roberts said.

"Do we literally need to abolish higher education in America? Of course not. There are institutions that have found balance and they are to be applauded. But it’s time for lawmakers to question the efficacy of higher education in America, meaningless majors, liberal bias, and intolerance of traditional values and conservative points of view.”

Republican state lawmakers have been frequent critics of higher education policies they view as too liberal for Tennessee. In the past, they have criticized the Sex Week at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

In 2016, lawmakers stripped $445,882 from the University of Tennessee’s Office for Diversity. Lawmakers were upset with a web post from the office offering tips about inclusive holiday parties.

The Associated Press and The Tennessean contributed to this report.