Not this year, Sen. Collins
To the editor:
I have been a registered Independent (now known as un-enrolled) for over 50 years and I find myself writing this piece because of the November election coming soon. In past elections, I have supported Sen. Susan Collins, but this year is a different story.
Some of the ads I have been hearing in the media do not square with Sen. Collins’ past voting record. Also, some of the issues she supported I have problems accepting.
I’ll take the reader back to fours years ago and work to the present day. Senior citizens might be interested in this one. On Dec. 8, 2010 Collins voted against Senate Bill S3985 which was an Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act. The next year on June 21, 2011, she voted against Senate Bill S782: an Economic Development Revitalization Act. That vote was close (49-51). On Oct. 11, 2011, a nay vote was cast on Senate Bill S1660 which was titled American Jobs Act of 2011.
I will now state my position on the Keystone XL project. I am not in favor of piping this dirty Alberta tar sands oil across the United States. An accident is waiting to happen for sure, and many people will have their drinking water contaminated. I differ even from the President on this one. However, on March 8, 2012, the Senate had an Amendment S1537 on Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline Project. Sen. Collins voted in the affirmative, but thank goodness it failed.
On June 5, the same year, Sen. Collins voted nay on Senate Bill S3220 which was the Paycheck Fairness Act. Then on July 12, 2012, she voted against Senate Bill S2237 which was a Small Business Jobs & Tax Relief Act. On July 25, 2012, Sen. Collins voted against the Middle Class Tax Cut Act, Senate Bill S3412. Again, on Sept. 22 the same year, she voted against the House Joint Resolution 117 which was a Continuing Appropriations Resolution 2013. The joint resolution passed in the Senate. On March 23, 2013, the Senate introduced S8, a continuing resolution, and it passed by one vote. Sen. Collins voted against this bill. (No partisan politics here?)
I served in the Army in Viet Nam and was once an NRA member, but I have problems with the average Joe needing military types of firearms and equipment for hunting and sport. It is totally unnecessary. Yet Sen. Collins on April 17, 2013 voted against S714, an amendment which would Limit Firearm Magazine Capacity. Then, again the very same day, she voted against S711, which would Prohibit The Sale of Assault Weapons. I can see the influence here of the NRA.
Aroostook County is a very agricultural and forest products area. However, on Feb. 4, 2014 Sen. Collins voted against HR2642, which was titled the Federal Agricultural Reform & Risk Management Act. But, I note that the conference report was adopted.
On April 9, 2014, Sen. Collins again voted against S2199 the Paycheck Fairness Act. Then on April 30, 2014, she voted against S2223, the Minimum Wage Fairness Act. On July 29, 2014 she voted against S3583, which was a Highway Trust Fund Amendment. However, the amendment was adopted by the Senate.
Here is the vote that really grabbed me, the one that involves Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision that allowed corporations to dump huge amounts of money into elections. On Sept. 11, 2014 Sen. Collins voted against SJ Resolution 19 which was to end up being a Constitutional Amendment to overturn the Supreme Court decision. So, she voted to block the Amendment from moving forward.
If anyone would like to verify Sen. Collins’ record of votes and the ones I have pointed out, just Google votesmart.org. There are about 19 pages of voting that came from the Congressional Record. It is all explained. The site has good ratings from Cable News Network (CNN) and also from Bill Moyers who now can be seen on Public Broadcasting.
Be sure to go vote. It is very important and be sure to vote smart.
Ernest H. Weaver
Ashland
