A Lot Riding on Collins’ Vote

The statewide conversation on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act voted for by Senator Collins is in earnest. Collins voted based on promises that healthcare amendments be included. As vital as healthcare is, and aside from reports that those provisions are already being eliminated in committee, we wish Senator Collins to understand that much more is at stake even than healthcare.

Sellers of the bill call it a “Christmas present” to the people. Others name it potentially one of the most immoral laws in our history. Reports by the Congressional Budget Office and the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation bear grim findings: lower and middle-income families will be worse off and large corporations and millionaires will benefit. Republican lawmakers, ignoring these reports, refer instead to a recent one-page report by Treasury Secretary Mnuchin which was to establish that somehow this bill will pay for itself. In fact, it explains that it will not, at least not without gouging more from the poorest and most vulnerable.

Is it any wonder that working citizens, students, clergy, retirees, disabled and the elderly are legitimately alarmed and are speaking up? As Senator Collins holds no town meetings, our only recourse is emails, phone calls and office visits, for which we are labeled “far left” by her. We understand that she is under pressure from her party to comply. Can she understand the real financial pressures faced daily by lower to middle-income families, by the disabled, by the elderly?

Collins has explained that she will wait to see the final bill before making her decision. We hope that Congress will be presented with the final bill with adequate time to assess it. We also hope that Senator Collins will take into account valid reports and not be swayed by empty promises. And dare we hope that she will vote for the good of her constituents and not cave in to the pressures of her party?

Laura Lander, Harpswell

Where is our hearing on the Clean Power Plan?

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt has long done the bidding of polluters. Now heâ ™ s at it again. Last week, he held only a lone hearing in the heart of coal country on his proposal to repeal the lifesaving Clean Power Plan. It is outrageous that Pruitt is excluding the public and advancing his pro-polluter agenda.

The citizens of our state have a right to be heard on the future of our climate.

I want Scott Pruitt and the EPA to know that I oppose efforts to dismantle federal efforts to reduce carbon pollution.

Hear this: Climate action mustn’t be delayed let alone dismantled. Protect the Clean Power Plan.

Henry Newhouse,

New Harbor