Having read Susan Collins’ comments on how she will assess qualifications for a candidate to fill retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy’s seat on the Supreme Court, we in Maine want to be assured that she will use good judgment in voting for the most qualified, irrespective of partisan qualifications.

We also want to know that in making her decision Collins will not rely on persuasive but unreliable promises or pressure from Sen. Mitch McConnell, since he failed to deliver on his “ironclad” commitments to her involving the Affordable Care Act.

After casting her vote for health-care repeal in the middle of the night, Collins admitted that she failed to deliver on her promises to Mainers. We need assurances she won’t fail us on her vote to fill this Supreme Court vacancy.

We need Collins’ commitment to not vote for a candidate that would further stack the Supreme Court with a partisan justice, as was done with the Neil Gorsuch’ appointment. Adding a fifth right-leaning justice could lead to overturning or eliminating both the Social Security program and the Medicare program, as some factions in Congress are bent on accomplishing. That would be devastating for a majority of Americans.

So we Mainers need to know Collins will take the time to evaluate candidates carefully and fairly, even if that takes until after the November elections.

Jim Chiddix

Waterville


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