Lawmaker apologizes for blaming bicyclists' breathing for CO2 emissions

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - A Washington state lawmaker has apologized for saying that bicyclists contribute to climate change with their heavy breathing.

Republican Rep. Ed Orcutt, of Kalama, is the ranking minority member of the state's House Transportation Committee. He apologized Monday for writing in an email last week that "the act of riding a bike results in greater emissions of carbon dioxide from the rider."

He was responding to bike store owner who was upset about a proposed fee on some new bicycle purchases. Orcutt is a fiscal conservative and believes cyclists should help pay for the upkeep of roads.

Orcutt says he was trying to say that bicyclists don't have a zero carbon footprint but that it was poorly worded.