June 17 – After reviewing federal budget documents, a 40-year-old nonprofit organization, Citizens Against Government Waste, tallied all the targeted spending Congress appropriated for specific projects across the country.
When it finished its work, the nonprofit stated that U.S. Sen. Susan Collinsa Republican from Maine, had pushed through 231 earmarks last year that provided $576 million for projects in her home state, “by far the largest amount” raised by any lawmaker.
A page from Citizens Against Government Waste’s new “Pig Book” shows U.S. Senator Susan Collins’ “Whole Hog Award” for bringing so much federal money to Maine.
The waste fighters presented her with their “Whole Hog Award” in recognition of her success in bringing home the bacon.
Whether she will still be able to raise that much money for Maine is an open question following the news that the Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell from Kentucky could make her the top GOP member of the powerful Senate committee next year.
Collins, the top Republican on the panel, may not like the wording of the “Whole Hog” award, but she’s okay with providing so much help to the Pine Tree State that first elected her in 1996.
“From expanding access to higher education, child care and affordable housing to supporting Maine’s working waterfronts, improving our roads and bridges and promoting economic development, these targeted investments will deliver real and direct benefits to communities in all 16 counties,” Collins said when she announced the allocations in March.
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“As vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I fought hard to ensure this important funding was included in the final funding bills,” Collins said in the prepared statement.
Collins’ junior partner, independent U.S. Sen. Angus King, who is seeking his third term this year, isn’t exactly great at raising money for Maine.
He got more money for his state than anyone except Collins and U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican. King raked in $454 million for 181 projects, although many of his projects are also on Collins’ list.
Collins has long hinted at the likelihood that she will one day chair the Senate Judiciary Committee, a major source of funding for generations.
The nation’s leaders have traditionally been among the top senators in securing federal largesse for their home states.
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Susan Collins says her longevity in the Senate benefits Maine
Collins, as vice chairman and top Republican, is poised to become chairman next year if the Republican Party manages to regain control of the Senate.
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But her longtime goal may be in jeopardy from an unlikely source: McConnell, who has always worked well with his Maine counterpart.
Axios reported last week that McConnell, who has already said he will no longer be the Republican Senate leader after this term, may be keeping an eye on the appropriations panel himself.
If McConnell wants to push Collins aside, he can. He has more seniority than her.
It seems an unlikely move for McConnell, but politics can take an unexpected turn every now and then.
Most political forecasters give Republicans the edge when it comes to who will control the Senate next term, but it will likely be a close battle that could depend on the outcome of the presidential race.
In any case, Collins has waited a long time to take the helm of the Appropriations Committee, so McConnell taking it away from her would be a big and unkind move from a man who has generally treated her well.
Annie Clark, the senator’s spokesperson, said the senator “fully anticipates that she will serve as chair or vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee in the next Congress.” Of course, it is Senator McConnell’s prerogative to make his own decisions, given his seniority. .”
It’s not clear what Collins would do if he were to take the Republican Party’s leading position on appropriations. She could probably take control of any of the other major Senate committees, but none of them offer the same ability to deliver aid to Maine, which has long been a major source of her political influence.
From Collins’ point of view, she would like to continue bringing home the bacon.
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