Montana lawmaker rejects resigning over socialism comments
By AMY BETH HANSON Associated Press
A Montana lawmaker has rejected legislative leaders' call for his resignation over his assertion that the U.S. Constitution allows socialists to be jailed or shot.
Republican Rep. Rodney Garcia of Billings says he'd only resign if God asked him to.
Three Republican state House leaders called Garcia's remarks at a party gathering Friday "un-American" and asked him to resign immediately.
Garcia says the House leaders were at the event and they said nothing until his comments were reported in the media.
Garcia said he filed last week to seek a seat in the state Senate.