A democratic representative in Massachusetts has filed a bill that could see people fined or jailed if they call someone a "b****".
Boston representative Dan Hunt's bill went before the Joint Committee on the state's judiciary on Tuesday.
If passed, the proposal would add an amendment to state law that assigns penalties for a variety of offences including "disorderly acts or language."
The proposal says: "A person who uses the word 'b****' directed at another person to accost, annoy, degrade or demean the other person shall be considered to be a disorderly person in violation of this section, and shall be subject to the penalties provided in subsections (a) and (b)"
The penalties could including a fine of $150 for their first offence, with subsequent offending punished with jail time up to a maximum of six months or a fine of $200.
Mr Hunt faced a backlash to the proposed legislation, with the Massachusetts GOP teasing the state's Democrats for their agenda.
The representative responded to criticism by explaining that the bill had been brought to him by a constituent.
He wrote on Twitter: "One of the responsibilities of all Representatives is to serve as a conduit for direct petition from out constituents to the General Court.
"It's a long-held tradition that gives every Massachusetts resident a voice inside the halls of the State House and a chance to raise their personal interests before the legislature.
"While this specific instance may amuse some and alarm others, it remains a important process for self-representation."
He explained to Boston.com that he had not indicated that the proposal was a citizen petition when he filled the bill because it "exposes the person or the individual to the scrutiny of the media and general public."
"I didn't give it much thought in retrospect. I'm glad we didn't because the individual would (have) thousands of people … calling her… as opposed to me, whose job it is to represent constituents," he told the publication.
But Mr Hunt would not clarify if he was actually in support of the bill.
Massachusetts is the only state that protects the citizens' right to free petition under Article 19 of their state constitution.
