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:
