COLUMBIA - A Lowcountry Republican apologized Tuesday for offending people with comments he made after he helped kill a criminal domestic violence bill last week.

Rep. John Graham Altman's apology came as the S.C. House put a reworked criminal domestic violence bill on a fast track in response to outrage about the Charleston lawmaker's remarks after the House Judiciary Committee killed a similar bill last week.

The new bill, like the old one, toughens penalties for domestic abuse now classified as a misdemeanor.

That bill could be debated as early as Thursday directly on the House floor instead of moving through the Judiciary Committee.

Last week, Altman questioned the intelligence of a Columbia TV reporter who juxtaposed the domestic violence bill with a bill making cockfighting a felony that cleared the committee.

He also questioned why women return to relationships in which they've suffered abuse.

"I do not understand why women continue to go back around men who abuse them," Altman, R-Charleston, said to WIS-TV. "I've asked women that and they all tell me the same answer, 'John Graham, you don't understand.' And I say you're right, I don't understand."

On Tuesday, Altman told the House he wanted to express "regret, real regret, and real sorrow over the publicity that this House has gotten in the last week."

He said he "offended a lot of people, and some people I offended who I didn't offend, but they're still offended, and I just want to apologize to each and every one.

"My intentions were not, never have been, never will be to paint this institution or any of you in a negative manner," Altman said. "... I'm sorry I caused pain to those to whom I really caused pain, and I'm sorry I caused pain to those who might want to say ouch anyway."

House Speaker David Wilkins and Judiciary Chairman Jim Harrison said Altman's remarks sounded sincere.

Rep. Joe Neal, D-Hopkins, said the apology fell short because Altman apologized only for offending people, not for his remarks or actions.

Altman would not respond to that.

His remarks came as Republicans rallied around the new legislation - and peeved Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, an Orangeburg Democrat who was the lead sponsor on the bill that died.

Wilkins and Harrison thought they had Cobb-Hunter on board with the new bill as its chief sponsor.

But she backed out Tuesday morning, complaining about Republicans taking marquee roles as co-sponsors, including Altman.

"I am not going to be a part of a Republican whitewash. I am not going to be part of an effort to clean up the Republican caucus problem," Cobb-Hunter said.