LANSING, MI -- A Republican lawmaker apologized Wednesday after referring to California as "the land of fruits and nuts" in a speech on the floor of the Michigan House.

Appropriations Chairman Al Pscholka, R-Stevensville, used the phrase when discussing his bill to loosen regulations on residential chair lifts for seniors, which passed the House in a subsequent vote.

"It's a play on words, but everybody knows it's just a derogatory term to refer to gay people as fruits," said state Rep. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, one of two openly gay members who were elected last fall.

"It was written on papers in front of him. He was reading them. He thought it was funny and gave a feigned apology (on the floor). This was a planned joke at the expense of gay people."

Pscholka, in his speech, was discussing chair lift installation requirements in other states and said that even California -- "the land of fruits and nuts" -- has deregulated the industry.

He quickly noted that he "probably shouldn't have said that" and apologized to House Speaker Kevin Cotter while some colleagues laughed. He elaborated on his comments after session.

"I was referring to the state of California as an agricultural producer that is simultaneously the state of overregulation. I intended it to be jocular, not derogatory," Pscholka said in a statement.



"I apologize to anyone who was offended by my comments. It was truly not meant in a derogatory manner."

Pscholka's comments spread quickly on social media, with Democratic lawmakers and gay rights advocates criticizing the language. State Rep. Jim Townsend, D-Royal Oak, opined that "classless remarks like this reflect poorly on our state."

State Rep. Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, said he approached Pscholka after his floor speech and had a brief conversation about the remarks.



"I just wanted to make sure he was aware that the phrase that he used is an offensive term, and in the end, I hope we can use this as a teachable moment," said Singh.

Katie Carey, a spokesperson for House Democrats, questioned Pscholka's decorum in using the word "fruits," noting that former state Rep. Lisa Brown was temporarily prohibited from speaking on the floor in 2012 after using the word "vagina" during a heated debate on abortion legislation.

"In 2015, it's really inappropriate for him to use that term," Carey said. "It's sad and inappropriate."

Jonathan Oosting is a Capitol reporter for MLive Media Group. Email him, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.