Last year Juan and his wife earned $14,000 before taxes, he said.

His wife earns $60,000 as a school administrator in a nearby county.

There are of course a few cases where wives earn more than their husbands.

"Whatever Larry has, he and his wife earned," she said.

His wife, who is also on strike from her state job, earns about $13,000.

Both he and his wife earned large fees last year from private speeches.

Because his wife earned more money, he said, it made more sense for him to stay home.

Any money the wife earns is hers to do with as she wishes.

Because wives usually earn less, they are more likely to give up their jobs to do child care.

He claimed his former wife and her new husband earned $150,000 a year.