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Some voters say they are considering voting for Sen. Susan Collins because of her position as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Collins herself has used that as a selling point in her campaign. What voters must understand is that I believe she has not fully used that power to the advantage of Maine, the country, or the world for that matter. One might say she has squandered it.
Although her heavily publicized ads showcase projects she has obtained funding for in Maine, our state ranks only 22nd in the nation for federal grants. In 2025, excluding programs such as Social Security and Medicare, Maine received an average of $1,066 per person in federal grants, just over the national average of $979, but Alaska received $3,252, New Mexico $2,558, and Virgin Islands $3,265! Yet “Maine’s Senator” Collins is the chair of the committee that has control over those funding sources.
She has allowed funding of rampant ICE operations, and cuts to healthcare funding. Through her failure to stand up against more unqualified and unscrupulous cabinet appointments, she has facilitated the degradation of the strength and character of our country, and essentially turned her back on clean air, water, public lands, climate change, clean energy, and public health.
She could be using the power of the purse to pressure the Trump administration to stop aligning with Russia, to end his tariff wars, and abide by the law and Constitution. I think Susan Collins is no longer working for the people who elected her. It’s time for a change.
Paul Potvin
Hampden