A Washington state lawmaker of Alaska Native descent says his fellow Republicans discriminated against him due to his race and age.
Rep. Jim Dunn, 65, is a descendant of the Cook Inlet Tribe in Alaska. He says Republicans unfairly stripped him of leadership positions after he made a sexually suggestive remark to a female legislative staffer.
"For making a sarcastic remark in a bar after a couple of drinks in that setting, and having apologized for it, don't you think the punishment is a little extreme?" Dunn told the Associated Press.
Dunn also says Republicans have run against him in primaries. The state party has restricted his reimbursements for travel and expenses.
On his official biography, Dunn does not state he is Alaska Native. It states he is a "descendent of pioneer families from the Washington and Alaska territories."
Get the Story:WA state lawmaker appealing punishment over inappropriate remark (AP 11/29) $rl Rep. Jim Dunn - http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/dunn
Rep. Jim Dunn, GOP site - http://www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Dunn
