WASHINGTON, D.C. — A study released March 19 by the Lugar Center and The McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University ranks U.S. Senator Susan Collins as the most bipartisan Senator for the sixth consecutive year.
Collins received the highest bipartisan score in the 26-year history of the index.
“In today’s highly charged partisan atmosphere, reaching across the aisle is essential for getting things done and solving some of our nation’s most pressing issues. I have long held the belief that Congress produces the best legislation when it listens to a variety of viewpoints and receives input from both Republicans and Democrats,” said Collins.
“Senator Susan Collins continues to be the gold standard for bipartisanship in the U.S. Congress. Her score on the Bipartisan Index for the recently completed 115th Congress is the highest we have ever recorded in the 26-year history of the Index. Her score of 3.166 surpasses the previous record of 2.718 set by Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon in the 110th Congress,” said former Senator Richard Lugar.
“Senator Collins can only score at these historic highs by prioritizing good ideas over partisan talking points and by being open to working with all members of Congress for the good of our country and her state.”
The Lugar Center and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy’s Bipartisan Index is a non-partisan ranking of how often each member of Congress works across party lines based on sponsorships and co-sponsorships of legislation.
The index uses an objective formula based on two major criteria: the frequency with which a member sponsors bills co-sponsored by at least one member of the opposing party, and the frequency with which a member co-sponsors bills introduced by members of the opposite party.
Collins has earned past recognition for her efforts to reach across the aisle and find consensus. In 2016, she received the inaugural Jacob Javits Prize for Bipartisan Leadership for her exemplary efforts to facilitate bipartisanship throughout her Senate service.
