Leaders in the Nebraska Democratic Party are criticizing Republican state auditor Mike Foley for his recent comment that low-income people lack money-management skills.

Foley made the statement last week during a speech hosted by Americans for Prosperity. State Sen. Jeremy Nordquist and Democratic Party Chairman Vince Powers said Foley should apologize for his remarks. Nordquist, a Democrat, said in a statement Tuesday that Foley’s remark shows a lack of understanding of Nebraska residents living paycheck to paycheck.

Foley says the comment was taken out of context from an hour-and-a-half speech, in which he criticized the state for the way it managed an energy-assistance program for low-income residents. Auditors found that the state sent nearly $8 million federal payments directly to customers, instead of their utility companies as required.