Illinois Dem says she'd like to infect GOP colleague's family with 'broth of legionella'

There has been no shortage of uncivil discourse in American politics in recent years, but one Illinois Democrat kicked it up a notch Tuesday, telling a Republican colleague she would like to infect his loved ones with legionella bacteria. 

Democratic state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit made the comment during a debate on the floor of the Illinois House of Representatives in Springfield over legislation that would raise the cap on damages the state can pay in civil cases to $2 million.

The measure was proposed in response to an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease at a veterans' home that led to 14 deaths. 

Republican state Rep. Peter Breen argued against the bill, saying most of the money would wind up in the hands of trial lawyers. 

"I would like to make him a broth of legionella and pump it into the water system of his loved one(s) so they can be infected, they can be mistreated ... and ultimately die," Kifowit said in response to Breen.

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Legionella is a freshwater bacteria that can spread in buildings and can lead to the potentially fatal Legionnaire’s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Republican state Rep. Jeanne Ives passionately denounced Kifowit for her comment.  

"How dare you take an honest debate about an issue and then wish death on my colleague Peter Breen, his wife and his two adopted kids," Ives said. She then said she thought such rhetoric was "par for the course" among her Democratic opponents. 

Kifowit apologized to Breen for her remarks in a Wednesday tweet. 

"I offer my sincere apology to Rep Peter Breen, his family, and all of my House colleagues for my poor choice of words during a serious discussion on our Veterans’ health and safety. I would never wish any harm or mortality on anyone’s family, including the Breen family," she said. 

Kifowit said that, as a veteran, she feels "very passionately" about the handling of the Legionnaire's outbreak at the veterans' home in Qunicy, Illinois.  

"The truth is this did happen to our heroes, and my attempt to illustrate empathy for the families that were affected by the loss of their loved ones was not conveyed properly," she said in another tweet.

Contributing: The Associated Press