I agree with recent letters commending Republican Sen. Susan Collins for her tone of civility. We Mainers should be thankful that she’s avoided the mean-spiritedness of some of her more extreme colleagues. Decency matters, both to our state’s image and to the quality of our political discourse overall.
What also matters, however, is our elected officials’ actual votes. And here I’ve noticed a disappointing trend lately.
Sen. Collins voted to defund Planned Parenthood, voted against raising the minimum wage, voted to block the Paycheck Fairness Act and, most alarmingly, voted to block debate on overturning the disastrous Citizens United decision. What’s happened to the independent-minded senator I used to support?
Beneath her pleasant exterior, Collins’ recent voting priorities appear to have shifted toward party orthodoxy and big-money special interests, and away from passing sensible, forward-thinking legislation for regular Americans like me. Yes, votes matter, and I’m afraid she’s lost mine.
Peter Gordon
Yarmouth
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