BANGOR, Maine (AP) — Maine's Republican governor says it's hard to understand workers "from Bulgaria" and workers from India are "the worst ones."

Gov. Paul LePage said Saturday that foreign workers are being used in restaurants after he criticized a referendum proposal to raise Maine's minimum wage to $12. He says he's disappointed his alternative proposal to hike the wage to $10 didn't get traction.

He described Indians as "lovely people but you've got to have an interpreter."

LePage is known for making controversial remarks. In this case, he was chuckling as he spoke at the state party convention. He joked that his wife is going to get a job as a waitress for supplemental income.

He also had a crude remark about President Barack Obama, saying Obama stands for "one big-ass mistake, America."