Tom Foley Has Some Explaining to Do.

That didn’t take long. Republican Tom Foley announced Tuesday morning he will explore a bid for governor under the state’s public financing program. State Democrats pounced. They were ready with a pointed quote from Foley circa 2010 condemning rival Republican Michael Fedele for participating in the taxpayer funded scheme. Foley went to court to try to keep Fedele from collecting millions in public funds to wage his primary fight against the self-funding Foley.

Here’s the 2010 Foley campaign quote from campaign manager Justin Clark that we’ll be seeing often:

“As a Republican, I don’t mind a primary, but I do mind that the lieutenant governor is trying to use taxpayers’ dollars to finance his campaign,” Clark said. “He is asking people for contributions so he can qualify to use taxpayers’ money for advertising, balloons, bumper stickers, and high priced consultants against a fellow Republican.”

Clark added, “Most Republicans don’t understand how a candidate for governor whose most important leadership challenge will be reducing government spending can start off by asking taxpayers to pay up to $2.5 million for his primary campaign. Instead, he should be asking to have the “Citizens Election Program” repealed. The program is referred to mockingly as the incumbents’ full-employment program, and it could cost the state over tens of millions of dollars this election cycle.”

Foley has some ‘splainin’ to do.