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'''Susan Margaret Collins''', born December 7, 1952 (age {{age|1952|12|7}}), in Caribou, Maine, is the junior U.S. Senator from [[Maine]] and a member of the [[Republican Party]]. Serving in a fairly [[liberal]] state, Collins is frequently labeled as a Republican in Name Only ([[RINO]]).  She has often broken with her party and voted with the Democrats, notably in in support of [[partial-birth abortion]], [[Homosexual rights advocacy|homosexual "rights"]], and spending bills.  

'''Susan Margaret Collins''', born December 7, 1952 (age {{age|1952|12|7}}), in Caribou, Maine, is the junior U.S. Senator from [[Maine]] and a member of the [[Republican Party]]. Serving in a fairly [[liberal]] state, Collins is frequently labeled as a Republican in Name Only ([[RINO]]).  She has often broken with her party and voted with the Democrats, notably in in support of [[partial-birth abortion]], [[Homosexual rights advocacy|homosexual "rights"]], and spending bills.  

While she voted with the majority of the Senate in favor of the 2002 "[[Iraq War]] Resolution" authorizing President [[George W. Bush]] to go to war against Iraq, she cosponsored a non-binding resolution with three other liberal Republican Senators that showed the Senate's disapproval of the President's plan to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq in January 2007. Additionally, in the [[Obama administration]] she was one of only three Republicans to support the $787 billion [[economic stimulus package]], although she worked to reduce $100 billion from the package, along with [[Nebraska]] [[Democrat]] Senator [[Ben Nelson]].  

While she voted with the majority of the Senate in favor of the 2002 "[[Iraq War]] Resolution" authorizing President [[George W. Bush]] to go to war against Iraq,<ref>[https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/107-2002/s237 H.J.Res. 114 (107th): Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002]</ref> she cosponsored a non-binding resolution with three other liberal Republican Senators that showed the Senate's disapproval of the President's plan to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq in January 2007. Additionally, in the Obama era, she was one of only three Republicans to support the $787 billion [[economic stimulus package]],<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/787-billion-senate-passes-stimulus-on-60-38-vote/ $787 Billion: Senate Passes Stimulus On 60-38 Vote]</ref> although she worked to reduce $100 billion from the package, along with [[Nebraska]] [[Democrat]] Senator [[Ben Nelson]].<ref>[https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2009/02/the_senate_cut_100_billion_dol.html The Senate Cut $100 Billion Dollars and All Obama Got Were Three Measly Republicans]</ref>

Collins was easily reelected to a third term in the U.S. Senate in 2008.

Collins was easily reelected to a third term in the U.S. Senate in 2008.<ref>[https://townhall.com/election/2008/senate/me/county Senate County Results]</ref>

==Biography==

==Biography==

Collins is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of St. Lawrence University. She worked for Senator William Cohen from 1975 until 1987, when she became chair of the Maine commission on financial regulation. She served in this position until 1992, when she briefly served as New England regional director of the National Small Business Administration. She was the Republican candidate in the Maine gubernatorial election of 1994, but both she and the Democratic candidate, former Governor Joe Brennan, were defeated by the Independent candidate, Angus King. Susan Collins was elected to the United States Senate in 1996.

Collins is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of St. Lawrence University. She worked for Senator William Cohen from 1975 until 1987,<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=46 Our Campaigns - Candidate - Susan Collins]</ref> when she became chair of the Maine commission on financial regulation. She served in this position until 1992, when she briefly served as New England regional director of the National Small Business Administration. She was the Republican candidate in the Maine gubernatorial election of 1994, but both she and the Democratic candidate, former Governor Joe Brennan, were defeated by the [[Independent voters|Independent]] candidate, [[Angus King]]. Collins was elected to the United States Senate in 1996.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1996election.pdf 1996election.pdf]</ref>

 

==Senate career==

==Senate career==

Susan Collins voting record is moderate and has been consistently one of the most liberal Republicans in the senate. In the 1990s, Collins played an important role during the U.S. Senate's impeachment trial of [[Bill Clinton]] when she and fellow Maine Senator [[Olympia J. Snowe]] sponsored a motion that would have allowed the Senate to vote separately on the charges and the remedy. On May 23, 2005, Collins was one of fourteen moderate senators to forge a "compromise" on the Democrats' use of the judicial filibuster, thus allowing the Republican leadership's attempt to control debate without having to exercise the so-called "nuclear option". Under the agreement the Democrats would retain the power to filibuster a Bush judicial nominee only in an "extraordinary circumstance", and the three Bush appellate court nominees (Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen, and William Pryor) would receive a vote by the full Senate. Senator Collins is a member of The Republican Main Street Partnership and supports stem cell research. She is also a member of The Republican Majority For Choice, Republicans For Choice, The Wish List, Republicans for Environmental Protection, and It's My Party Too.

Susan Collins voting record is moderate and has been consistently one of the most [[liberal]] Republicans in the senate. In the 1990s, Collins played an important role during the U.S. Senate's impeachment trial of [[Bill Clinton]] when she and fellow Maine Senator [[Olympia J. Snowe]] sponsored a motion that would have allowed the Senate to vote separately on the charges and the remedy. On May 23, 2005, Collins was one of fourteen moderate senators to forge a "compromise" on the Democrats' use of the judicial filibuster, thus allowing the Republican leadership's attempt to control debate without having to exercise the so-called "nuclear option". Under the agreement the [[Democrats]] would retain the power to filibuster a Bush judicial nominee only in an "extraordinary circumstance", and the three Bush appellate court nominees (Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen, and William Pryor) would receive a vote by the full Senate. Senator Collins is a member of The Republican Main Street Partnership and supports stem cell research. She is also a member of The Republican Majority For Choice, Republicans For Choice, The Wish List, Republicans for Environmental Protection, and It's My Party Too.

Collins supports allowing homosexuals to serve in the military and [[same-sex "marriage"]].<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/us/politics/19cong.html?pagewanted=all</ref><ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/susan-collins-supports-same-sex-marriage-108339.html</ref>

Collins supports allowing homosexuals to serve in the military and [[same-sex "marriage"]].<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/19/us/politics/19cong.html?pagewanted=all</ref><ref>https://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/susan-collins-supports-same-sex-marriage-108339.html</ref>

Collins opposes repealing [[ObamaCare]], and supports "fixing" it by keeping much of the law.<ref>Hellmann, Jessie; Carney, Jordain (July 18, 2017). [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/342534-gops-repeal-only-plan-quickly-collapses-in-senate GOP's repeal-only plan quickly collapses in Senate]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved July 18, 2017.</ref>

Collins opposes repealing [[ObamaCare]], and supports "fixing" it by keeping much of the law.<ref>Hellmann, Jessie; Carney, Jordain (July 18, 2017). [https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/342534-gops-repeal-only-plan-quickly-collapses-in-senate GOP's repeal-only plan quickly collapses in Senate]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved July 18, 2017.</ref>

Notwithstanding her views, Collins has a perfect attendance record of over 20 years, not missing one vote since she was sworn into the Senate in 1997.

Notwithstanding her views, Collins has a perfect attendance record of over 20 years, not missing one vote since she was sworn into the Senate in 1997.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/susan-collins-has-perfect-attendance-she-hasnt-missed-a-senate-vote-in-18-years/445875/ Susan Collins Has Perfect Attendance: She Hasn’t Missed a Senate Vote in 18 Years.]</ref>

===Committee Membership===

===Committee Membership===

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=Home.Home&CFID=21195202&CFTOKEN=18227368 Official Website]

*[http://collins.senate.gov Official Senate Website]

*[http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Susan_Collins.htm Collins On the Issues]

*[http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Susan_Collins.htm Susan Collins On the Issues]

*[http://blogsforcollins.wordpress.com/ Blogs for Susan Collins]

==References==

==References==