Collins’ Enabling of Trump’s Anti-Environment Agenda Is Key Reason She Lost Support of Climate Groups to Sara Gideon
One of the most important tools that Donald Trump has wielded in his unprecedented assault on our nation’s bedrock environmental protections has been appointing people with dangerous anti-environmental views to direct policy in the executive branch, and Senator Susan Collins has been with him nearly every step of the way. Since Trump took office in 2017, Collins has voted to confirm a veritable clown car of climate deniers, energy industry lobbyists, and former fossil fuel executives to lead the agencies responsible for setting environmental policies and leading our nation’s fight against the climate crisis.
Not only did Collins vote to confirm nominees with a history of climate denial to leading positions at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Office of Management and Budget, she helped install officials with a record of working to weaken environmental safeguards at the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. Collins also voted to confirm former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler as EPA Deputy Administrator.
Senator Collins’ votes to confirm anti environment Trump nominees played a significant role in bulldozing her reputation among environmental advocates. After her score dropped to 21% on the League of Conservation Voters’ 2018 National Environmental Scorecard, LCV Action Fund announced they were flipping to endorse Sara Gideon for Senate after backing Collins in her previous reelection campaigns.
“Donald Trump’s deadly attacks on our environment wouldn’t have been anywhere near as devastating without Senators like Susan Collins helping him place radical anti-environment nominees in key regulatory roles,” said Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Lisa Roberts. “Collins’ continued enabling of Trump's climate denial and dangerous pro-corporate polluter agenda will have disastrous consequences for Maine people for generations to come.”
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