Gov. Paul LePage: Public campaign financing is 'like giving your wife your checkbook'

Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) argued on Wednesday that a ballot initiative to provide more transparency in elections by expanding public financing would be like "giving your wife your checkbook."

At a town hall event in Auburn, LePage was asked about Question 1, a ballot initiative to enhance Maine's Clean Elections Act. If the measure passes, candidates who are being heavily outspent by opponents could qualify for limited public financing by collecting small donations from supporters.

"Now, the legislature is going to have to fund it," LePage complained. "That's like giving my wife my checkbook."

"I'm telling you," he continued. "It's giving your wife your checkbook. Go spend."

Watch the video below, uploaded to YouTube on Oct. 21, 2015