LePage: Public Campaign Financing Is Similar To ‘Giving Your Wife Your Checkbook’

Gov. Paul LePage takes a question at a town hall meeting Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015, in Auburn, Maine. The Republican governor said that for Maine to become more competitive, the state must keep cutting taxes and energ... Gov. Paul LePage takes a question at a town hall meeting Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015, in Auburn, Maine. The Republican governor said that for Maine to become more competitive, the state must keep cutting taxes and energy costs while finding ways to attract more young families. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) compared public campaign financing Wednesday to handing his checkbook over to his wife to spend money, reported website and podcast mainebeacon.com.

An initiative on the November ballot in Maine would allow candidates who were being far outspent by their opponents to “re-qualify for additional public financing,” according to the report.

“That’s like giving my wife my checkbook,” LePage said, to some laughter during a town hall Wednesday. “I’m telling you, it’s giving your wife your checkbook. Go spend.”

Eliza Townsend, executive director of the Maine Women’s Lobby, responded to the governor’s comment.

“The governor’s attitude toward women, toward relationships and toward money are so dated as to be bizarre,” she said, as quoted by the report.

Watch the exchange:

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Governor LePage is a proud high school graduate, and none of you haters can ever take that away.

  2. Uhm…he doesn’t let his wife have a checkbook? What a bizarre man. I’m sure that’s a happy marriage.

  3. Wow. What century is this pig living in?

  4. Aw…Paul! You ol’ kidder, you!

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

10 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for lestatdelc Avatar for braxtonbraggart Avatar for dave_adams Avatar for doctorbiobrain Avatar for johnscotus Avatar for captaincrunch Avatar for arc_of_the_universe Avatar for dnl Avatar for pshah Avatar for johniwaniszek Avatar for dedicateddiva Avatar for bplewis24 Avatar for gorehound Avatar for Landshark2995

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: