AUGUSTA — A Maine legislative committee has delayed making a decision on whether the state’s watchdog agency should investigate allegations that Republican Gov. Paul LePage forced the president of the World Acadian Congress to step down.

Democratic Reps. Ronald “Danny” Martin and Robert Saucier asked the Government Oversight Committee last month to initiate an investigation into the allegation made by liberal and political activist Mike Tipping in a column published by the Bangor Daily News.

Tipping quoted a member of the World Acadian Congress board as saying that LePage had threatened to pull $500,000 in funding for the organization unless it removed Jason Parent as president.

LePage officials say Tipping’s claim is false and politically motivated.

The panel said Thursday that it needs more information before deciding whether to pursue an investigation.