Susan Collins tends to say three specific things when she talks to Maine voters about why she should be re-elected to the U.S. Senate.
She says she has a proven bi-partisan record, having voted across the aisle with Democrats one-third of the time. She says she has a history of being effective, having successfully written legislation on homeland security, education, health care and other issues.
And she says she has more work she would like to accomplish. The spiraling economy and the cost and sustainability of energy, she says, are among the most pressing issues that need to be addressed.
“You deserve a senator who knows how to get things done, a senator who has been effective for you,” Collins said during a recent debate in Brewer with Tom Allen, the 1st District congressman who hopes to win her seat on Nov. 4. “I have a long record of legislative accomplishments.”
Like most seeking elective office, Collins stresses her local roots and how her life experiences have shaped her outlook, which she believes reflects the priorities and concerns of most of her constituents. She is quick to emphasize her ties to Maine’s small-business community, which she has said makes up the backbone of the state’s economy.
Her brothers still run the northern Maine lumber supply business that her parents owned and operated. It has been in the family since 1844.
Collins also served as the first executive director of the Center for Family Business at Husson College, recently renamed Husson University, and as New England administrator of the federal Small Business Administration.
“I know firsthand the struggles of small business,” Collins said during a recent visit to Trans-Tech Industries in Brewer. “I’d like to continue that service to the small businesses of Maine and the hundreds of thousands of people they employ.”
Collins, 55, is single and has no children but has strong, long-term family ties to Aroostook County, where she grew up in Caribou and still has close relatives.
Much as Tom Allen was introduced to politics through his parents, Collins was introduced to politics through her father and mother, Don and Pat Collins. In addition to running the family lumber supply business, Don and Pat each at one point served as mayor of Caribou. Don Collins also served as a Maine state senator.
During the Brewer debate, Collins recalled how as a child she would ride up and down the escalators at Freese’s department store in downtown Bangor, where she has lived for the past 14 years. She said she also used to come to Bangor every winter from Caribou to attend the high school basketball tournament at the Bangor Auditorium.
Collins’ experience in public service goes back to the 1970s, when she graduated from St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., and started work as an aide to then-Sen. William Cohen. She worked for Cohen for more than a decade before she became Maine’s commissioner of professional and financial regulation in 1987 under Gov. John McKernan. After running unsuccessfully for governor in 1994, she successfully ran for the Senate in 1996 and has been there since.
Not surprisingly, Collins has spent a good deal of time of late talking about the economy.
She thinks there should be more scrutiny of Wall Street and better disclosure for investors in order to encourage more transparency of financial markets and better lending practices.
“I think we need more eyes on the problem and more investigators, overseers and auditors whose interests are the consumers, not the regulated entity,” Collins said during a recent campaign bus ride to Bangor from Waterville, where she had just spoken to the Rotary Club about the federal economic stabilization package. The package, she said, was necessary to keep the country from slipping into an economic depression.
During the bus ride to Waterville, Collins prepared for the talk by checking stock market prices on her personal digital assistant while a handful of volunteers sat behind her, stuffing campaign literature into envelopes.
“Aye-aye-aye,” Collins said, reading the figures on the PDA’s small screen. “The Dow [Jones Industrial Average] has fallen below 10,000. And it’s all due to [stock prices in] Europe.”
Collins — like Allen — has stressed the importance of developing alternate sources of energy to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil. Sustainable sources of energy from wind, water and biomass materials such as wood can be developed from Maine’s natural resources and can help boost the state and national economy, each candidate has said.
Collins said she is part of a “Gang of 20” senators — 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans — who have been working on a comprehensive energy proposal that would allow for more off-shore drilling and provide tax incentives for wind power development and funding for advanced battery research, among other things. The proposal is one thing she would like to complete before January, if she is re-elected, she said.
“There’s a lot of work left to be done,” she said.
During the campaign, Collins has criticized Allen for what she says is his lack of bipartisanship and effectiveness and his low business-friendly rating. He has missed 157 votes in the House, she said, and has voted with his party 98 percent of the time.
Allen has countered those arguments by saying he supports the middle class and Collins sides with Bush too much. He has said he has been unafraid to stand up to his party leadership and has participated in 98 percent of the House votes during his tenure.
But Collins said her record of accomplishments and bipartisanship speaks for itself. These things, she said, are more important than which party has a majority in the Senate. She also said voters prefer not to put all the power of government into one person or party.
“I think people look at who’s been more effective,” Collins said. “I also think people want checks and balances.”
If re-elected, Collins said, she will take the same approach back to Washington that has helped her write and pass legislation that has improved port security, oversight of contractors in Iraq, and increased funding for diabetes research, among other things.
“I’m one of the least-partisan members of the United States Senate,” she said. “That’s the only way you can get things done.”
On 10/18/08 at 6:17 AM,
mrclam wrote:
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On all major issues she voted with Bush. Period! No lie! Check it out! She's lying! What can you say against such a shameless liar? She thinks we're all stupid - like she is - and she may be right. It's a shame that voters don't investigate these wild claims she makes. She is about as bipartisan as Rush Limbaugh; she just smiles and keeps her voting record as secret as she can. She's bad for Maine and the country and she should be retired to a place that teaches public speaking, objective thinking, and honesty. Useless.
On 10/18/08 at 7:13 AM,
Knightscross wrote:
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Ironic, I did not see Collins at the Palin Hate rally in Bangor.
On 10/18/08 at 7:39 AM,
Mainer50 wrote:
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What happened to the then popular repblican mantra, for someone who is supposidly honest, that she would step down for the third term, because she believes in term limits? Does that mean, as the wind blows, so does she?
On 10/18/08 at 8:26 AM,
mr23257 wrote:
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A vote for Susan Collins is a vote for George Bush. If you like what Bush has done to our nation's economy, then vote for Susan Collins. And what is it with the Bush clan? Every time a Bush gets elected president, he destroys our nation's economy. Pray to God there's not a third-generation of Bushes aiming for the presidency. Otherwise, hello third-world nation status for the U.S.!
On 10/18/08 at 9:34 AM,
Mainecommenter wrote:
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Twelve years of solid, bipartisan achievements...well done, Senator Collins!
On 10/18/08 at 10:02 AM,
SteveH wrote:
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Folks, it is important that we return Susan to Washington. She is a clear moderate in a group that tends to be dominated by left or right extremists. Tom Allen has done little over the last twelve years. Unfortunately, I have a feeling we will send Tom to the same place we sent our last do-nothing light-wieght ineffective congressman - the governers office.
On 10/18/08 at 10:15 AM,
Govt2Big wrote:
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Senator Collins isn't perfect, just like all of us, but she does work hard for Maine residents. In addition, she will show-up to work and to vote! Unfortunately, we are unable to say the same for Tom Allen. In fact, as you may recall, he wanted to go on vacation this summer instead of staying in Washington to resolve the energy crisis.
Tom Allen has also sponsored an anti-worker movement for his huge campaign supporters from within the corrupt world of labor unions (EFCA). Don't let Tom Allen steal our right for a private ballot/vote in the workplace! Don't let Tom Allen drag our country down under a pure socialist/communist dictatorship. If elected, he will do just that!
Please help protect our American Freedoms by voting for Senator Collins. While she isn't perfect, she is the best choice for Maine. We must always remember 9/11, God bless America.
On 10/18/08 at 10:50 AM,
clg898 wrote:
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I did an analysis of the presidential candidate's tax proposals. Who do you think cuts taxes the most for Bangor resident? See here for the answer: http://tinyurl.com/6juzeu
On 10/18/08 at 12:36 PM,
sickntired wrote:
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Yep Colins and all the republicans are jumping on the bandwagon and claiming how bi-partisan they are. If she is so danged bi-partisan why isn't she registered as an independent? Send the old baren doe back to the county. And Govt2big.... you really think Tom Allen can bring down the whole of the USA all by himself? Get real!
On 10/18/08 at 5:11 PM,
Govt2Big wrote:
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No sickntired, he doesn't have enough spine for that. However, he does have enough connections with crooked union thugs whom will gladly help destroy this country. If you are one of those anti-American types, I can only pray that God will forgive your sick actions.
On 10/18/08 at 7:01 PM,
MoeBolduc wrote:
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Susan truly is Our Senator! When I retired from law enforcement two years ago, I encountered a problem with Medicare over my retirement date. I had retired beyond my eligable date but Medicare had made a mistake in their calculations that they refused to admit. I contact Senator Collins, and was amazed with the speed and efficency which her staff responded and resolved the problem. She truly is non partisan and is interested in the concerns and welfare of her constituents. VOTE COLLINS IN NOVEMBER
On 10/19/08 at 7:16 PM,
sickntired wrote:
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Yep.. I am one of then anit American typs ... If you count Vietnam veterans and retired business owners as anti-american. I pray every day for God to straighten out my sick and twisted attitude of concern about my country and the good folks who live here. But I must confess to being one of those miss-guided Democrats. I hope you can forgive that and be at least a little bi-partisan here.
On 10/21/08 at 7:30 PM,
glenna wrote:
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This country need the BEST TEAM we Americans can send to Washington D.C. It's going to take a collaborative effort between the President's administrative team (and I hope that will be an Obama team) working with a collaborative Congressional Team. We, the People, can not afford partisanship any longer! Not all of the answers will come from people who have a (D) after their name. Nor will the best solutions come from people with (R) after their name. We need to send people who can reach across the aisle and find cooperation - a willingness to listen (not shout and interrupt), a respect for each other's thoughts and opinions while working toward a solution (which is why, sickntired, that "old barren doe" remark is WAY out of line!). At least Susan shows up - never missed a vote, which is what she's paid to do. Tom has missed "doing his job" over 150 times. Bet he never missed collecting and cashing his paycheck (which we, taxpayers, fund BTW). Susan writes bills in conjunction with both (R)s and (D). Tom seems to be pretty much a rubber stamp for the DNC. Not the kind of problem solver, team player, this country needs or has a right to.
On 10/21/08 at 8:11 PM,
gmse66 wrote:
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Glenna:
I have to say after sitting here for weeks in silence and reading all these post, listening to the hate, name calling, etc. I have to say, you pretty much summed it all up and your post is the most sensible i have read for weeks. Too bad we all didn't feel the same, meaning....expressing your opinion, without the spite and hate, and slamming each other at any whim. I do not express my opinion on here for the simple fact, that this comment section has tunned into a chat room, and everyones opinion is not just that, other posters actually take it personally. I for one will not be part of that.
So, thank you Glenna, maybe other commenters will follow your example, and act like the adults that we are suppose to be.
On 10/21/08 at 8:26 PM,
gmse66 wrote:
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And, oh before i get jumped on and called a idiot, sorry, i wrote tunned, it should be "turned", sorry, i do have a college degree, by the way. Thank you!!
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