Sen. Angus King: “This bill is a farce. Imagine a bunch of guys sitting around a table, saying, ‘I’ve got a great idea. Let’s give $32,000 worth of tax breaks to a millionaire and we’ll pay for it by taking health insurance away from lower-income and middle-income people. And to top it off, how about we cut food stamps, we cut SNAP, we cut food aid to people?’… I’ve been in this business of public policy now for 20 years, eight years as governor, 12 years in the United States Senate. I have never seen a bill this bad. I have never seen a bill that is this irresponsible, regressive and downright cruel.”
My thanks to Sen. King for standing up for Mainers.
Sen. Susan Collins’ “Yes” vote, allowing the bill to be opened for debate, enabled the passage of this terrible bill. She subsequently voted the party line against numerous amendments designed to lesson the damage done by this bill. Her final “No” vote against the bill was not made until it became clear it would have no effect on the outcome.
This is not standing up for Mainers.
Nigel Calder
Newcastle
(Correction, July 4, 2025: A previous version of this letter mischaracterized Sen. Collins’ vote to advance the bill for debate.)
We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is found on our FAQs. You can modify your screen name here.
Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve.
Join the Conversation
Please sign into your CentralMaine.com account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe. Questions? Please see our FAQs.