Augusta, ME – Today, at Senator Collins’ office in Augusta, Maine Democrats held the fourth stop on the “Retire Susan” recess tour, where they highlighted Senator Collins’ subservience to Donald Trump. Speakers, including Dr. Nirav Shah, underscored how Collins has voted with Trump 96% of the time and has refused to conduct serious oversight of his administration. The event occurred as new revelations surfaced that one of Collins’ campaign chairs is a former member of the far-right Oathkeepers.
“During her time as Appropriations chair, Senator Collins has repeatedly failed to use the committee’s immense power to hold the Trump administration accountable, instead giving administration officials a free pass during budget hearings,” said Dr. Nirav Shah. “Rather than using her Appropriations gavel to investigate or curb administration actions… Collins has largely deferred to Donald Trump and left critical constitutional checks to the courts, abdicating of her duty as a senator. Mainers have paid the price.”
“Susan Collins asked Maine voters to judge her by the power and seniority she accumulated in Washington. We should take her up on that,” said Charlie Dingman, Chair of the Maine Democratic Party. “She has the power. She has simply chosen not to use it to stand up to Donald Trump.”
“[Collins] re-election campaign is supported by MAGA extremists and Trump’s wealthiest and most powerful backers,” said Mark Brunton, President of the Maine Service Employees Association. “Trump endorsed Collins earlier this year, and JD Vance has said Collins is a ‘dear friend’ and is doing an ‘amazing job.’ […] Just this week it was revealed that one of Collins’ campaign chairs is a member of the Oathkeepers, one of the right-wing groups chiefly responsible for the January 6th insurrection.”
Learn more about how Susan Collins has fallen in line with Donald Trump’s radical agenda:
Collins has become a rubber stamp for President Trump, which is why he endorsed her and his strongest backers are funding her re-election campaign.
Collins is failing to use the position of power she campaigned on to help Maine. Instead, she’s voted with Trump 96% of the time, enabling his agenda, and confirming his extreme cabinet members and judges.
This includes votes for RFK Jr. and Kristi Noem
Collins is a “regular deciding vote” on “important Republican policies” and nominations. With her “protest votes” being “as strategic as they are symbolic,” prominent Republicans have highlighted how Collins has “never let the Republicans down” and is a “team player” in advancing GOP priorities.
On right wing radio stations and behind closed doors, Republicans praise Collins for always being with the president “when the chips are down.”
In the aftermath of Collins’s vote for a motion to proceed to Senate consideration of the OBBB, Republican Senator John Hoeven called Collins a “team player,” noting that she “helped us get on the bill at a time when we needed that help.”
- Collins was endorsed by President Trump, and some of Trump’s strongest supporters are bankrolling her re-election campaign.
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