Collins’ party skirts appropriations process, hands unilateral spending power to Donald Trump, guts funding for public broadcasting and rural radio

Augusta, Maine – Today, Susan Collins once again failed Mainers as her party passed a bill that hands unilateral spending power over to Donald Trump and makes devastating cuts to funding that will negatively impact national and local public broadcasting outlets like Maine Public Radio, hindering Mainers’ ability to get news, especially in rural areas.

New reporting overnight reveals Collins reportedly had a chance to ”scrap some of the proposed cuts to public broadcasting and global health funding,” which would have garnered Democratic support but “Collins had decided not to offer that amendment herself over questions about whether it would sink the overall bill.” Collins also voted against an amendment to strike cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from the bill.

Collins is chair of the Appropriations Committee and “one of the most senior senators” in Washington, who ran for reelection in 2020 on the promise that she would use her power and seniority to deliver for Maine. However, today Collins AGAIN failed to abide by “the standard she set,” and refused to use her power to stop these cuts that will negatively impact Maine.

Maine Democratic Party spokesperson Tommy Garcia:
“Every time Susan Collins fails to use the power she campaigns on to actually put a stop to legislation that will have negative consequences on Maine, she is cosigning her party’s toxic agenda. No amount of campaign rhetoric or politically motivated ‘concerns’ will save Collins from being held accountable by Mainers when they vote her out in 2026.”

See more: ICYMI: Susan Collins Goes Scorched Earth on NPR; Collins Fails to Stop Republicans From Granting Trump Unilateral Power; ICYMI: Susan Collins “May Not be Able to Avoid the Blame” for GOP Budget Bill Despite Apparently “Orchestrated” Vote [Portland Press Herald]; Mainers Call Out Collins for DOGE, Medicaid Cuts; ICYMI: Mainers Call Out Collins for Failing to Use Her Seniority to Protect Maine; NEW: Collins “Must be Judged by the Standard She Set” [Bangor Daily News Op-Ed];