COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) " Two Republican Ohio state lawmakers have apologized for offensive remarks during a top House staffer's going-away party that made light of recent sexual misconduct scandals and disparaged female lawmakers.
State Rep. Bill Seitz, of Cincinnati, and state Sen. Matt Huffman, of Lima (LY'-muh), expressed regret for vulgar and derogatory jokes cracked at Tuesday's farewell celebration for House Chief of Staff Mike Dittoe. Their remarks came less than a week after House-mandated sexual harassment training was given.
Seitz is known for his oratory and wrote House members he regretted any shame or embarrassment caused by his comments. He maligned GOP state Rep. Candice Keller and former state Rep. Diana Fessler with suggestive and sexist name-calling and jokes.
Huffman apologized for remarks including a vulgar term for female genitalia.