Susan Collins

Latest Articles

Maine's donkey party loves the rich and the poor — but can't protect both

Two-faced Democrats
In the current legislative fight over Republican Governor Paul LePage's lust to slash Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) programs because of a $221-million shortfall in its budget, Democrats say over and over that they want to protect the poor, sick, and disabled people from whom the governor wants to withdraw state assistance.
By LANCE TAPLEY | February 15, 2012

White House pans SOPA

Online Freedom
Maine's congressional delegation appears to be in a holding pattern while attempting to form positions on two bills that address widespread copyright and trademark violations via the Internet.
By JEFF INGLIS | January 18, 2012

2012 could see a resurgence in Portland's food scene

Fortune's return
It was four years ago — the beginning of 2008 — that Portland prepared to get its moment at the center of the nation's food consciousness.
By BRIAN DUFF | December 28, 2011

Senator Collins helps derail prison reform

'Toxic' Washington
As a result of the apparent decision by congressional Republicans to oppose almost everything Democrats are for, Maine Senator Susan Collins — who claims to be above partisanship — helped derail Virginia Democratic Senator Jim Webb's bill to establish a bipartisan National Criminal Justice Commission. Maine's Olympia Snowe and three other Republicans joined unanimous Senate Democrats to support it.
By LANCE TAPLEY | November 09, 2011

Maine sneaker-maker could provide military footwear

Born in the USA
As the only remaining manufacturer of athletic shoes in the United States — with three factories in Maine and two in Massachusetts — New Balance wants government assurance that military servicemembers wear American-made sneakers, not ones that are made overseas.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | September 21, 2011

Pingree advocates for raped veterans, gets results

Clearing red tape
The Department of Veterans' Affairs is taking steps to ensure that military sexual-assault and rape survivors have less of a hard time getting the benefits they deserve, according to US Representative Chellie Pingree, who represents Southern Maine in Washington, DC.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | July 13, 2011

Let them eat potatoes

Susan Collins steps up her defense of the Maine staple
Here in Maine brutal levels of unemployment continue even as the Republicans now running the state prepare to dismantle government assistance programs for the poor.
By BRIAN DUFF | March 16, 2011

Looking back on 2010: Maine goes red

Republicans take over Augusta, Portland cops go online, gay rights stay center stage, and more!
There were big wins, big defeats, encouraging signs, and disappointments. Here's a look at what Maine enjoyed — and endured — in 2010.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | December 22, 2010

Year in Greenview

Going green
While eco-friendly initiatives gained some local traction this year, the national environmental picture was relatively bleak in 2010 — and stands to get even more depressing next year.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | December 22, 2010

By | January 01, 0001

From carpenter to king

LePage has been surprisingly polite
In the wake of last month's election, I expected Republican governor-elect Paul LePage to provide me with an inexhaustible supply of column material.
By AL DIAMON | December 08, 2010

Will the lame ducks lift Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?

Down to the wire
The clock is ticking for Congress to act on two important anti-discrimination measures, both contained in the huge defense bill that senators hope to debate before the holiday recess.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | December 08, 2010

By | January 01, 0001

Keeping Close Buy

Going green
Masey Kaplan's children used to bring home fundraising catalogs — the ones from which part of the proceeds go to the school — from their Portland school, full of wrapping paper and plastic toys and goods "from god knows where." Kaplan, a graphic designer who lives in Portland, was torn.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | October 27, 2010

What women want

And what they need to run — and win — in Maine
It doesn't make much sense, on the surface. In the 60 years since Maine made history by being the first state to send a woman to the United States Congress, women have been regular, and stalwart, members of Maine's Washington delegation. But the state’s chief executive chair — and the only statewide elected office — has eluded women.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | October 13, 2010

Going Gaga for gay rights

Rally report
Maine became a gay-rights battleground again this week, complete with junior-high-style political maneuvering and pop-culture madness.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | September 22, 2010

By | January 01, 0001

Dueling ideas

Maine's senators on cybersecurity
Both of Maine's senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, have backed cybersecurity legislation in hopes of avoiding or averting the catastrophes described in David Scharfenberg's main piece. But their approaches have been different, leading to conflicting bills in the US Senate.
By JEFF INGLIS | September 01, 2010

You call this winning?

Afghanistan complications multiply. Plus, Congress is heading for a weak wrap-up.
President Barack Obama scored.
By EDITORIAL | June 30, 2010

Spookin' the horses

Scary trumps stupid every time
Move over, Freddy Krueger. Here come the real scary monsters: Libby Mitchell and Paul LePage.
By AL DIAMON | June 16, 2010

Plan B

Post-primary predictions
With the end of the long primary campaign, Mainers are facing an ugly reality.
By AL DIAMON | June 09, 2010

Wrote a song for everyone

Name that tune
Political experts know the most important factor in a successful race for governor is the campaign song.
By AL DIAMON | May 05, 2010

Gonna change directions

Jesus didn’t help Bill Beardsley.
That’s not intended as a negative reflection on the Son of God, who can’t be held responsible for the deficiencies in Beardsley’s early campaign style.
By AL DIAMON | April 15, 2010

Don't make promises

Paul LePage's disastrous mistake
In writing a weekly political column, you learn not to use the first paragraph to make extravagant claims you can't possibly deliver on.
By AL DIAMON | February 24, 2010

The power of money

Shame on the nation's biggest health insurer; shame on the Black Caucus
While a cadre of conservative Democrats continues to conspire with Washington's mendacious Republican minority to block national health-care reform, the nation's largest health-benefits company — amusingly called WellPoint — is going about its business of screwing policyholders and scoring record profits in the process.
By EDITORIAL | February 18, 2010

A fool for everyone

Trimming the flab from the governor's race
Time to dispose of a few inconsequential gubernatorial candidates.
By AL DIAMON | January 20, 2010

2009 had some redeeming qualities - really

Don’t look back in anger
Let's get serious: For many Portlanders, 2009 was a crap year.
By DEIRDRE FULTON AND JEFF INGLIS | December 22, 2009

Call for health-care reform

Letters to the Portland Editor, December 25, 2009
The November 7 passage of health-care reform, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, in the House of Representatives was a very important and exciting moment for everyone who is dedicated to the idea that all Americans need and deserve access to high quality, affordable health care.
By PORTLAND PHOENIX LETTERS | December 22, 2009