Dear Editor:

Senator Collins is a well respected member of our delegation and we certainly could do worse — we could have a McConnell or a Cornyn as our Senator. However, if you closely look at her voting record, she is not  the true moderate she is made out to be. Her vote against DeVos in the full Senate while voting for her in Committee was disingenuous at best. DeVos made it to the full Senate by one vote. Senator Collins was fully aware that a tie vote of 50 -50 would be broken by Vice President Mike Pence, therefore confirming DeVos as Secretary of Education, which is exactly what happened today. 

Her reasons for voting to send Ms. DeVos to the full Senate for a vote was that she believes that a presidential appointee should be considered by the full Senate. What is the point of all the committee hearings if unqualified or specious candidates are automatically forwarded on?

Senator Collins likes to compare herself to Margaret Chase Smith, the very courageous Republican Senator who took on McCarthyism in her Declaration of Conscience on the Senate floor in 1950. Collins often tests the winds before making a decision and tenuously walks the  fence to ensure she doesn't fall off to one side or another. Courage means you take a chance despite danger, disapproval or even loss of position. Margaret Chase Smith she is not. 

Watch her next votes closely. Will she vote to protect our beautiful environment, protect our workers, civil rights, women's rights? These all all up for grabs with the next cabinet appointee votes.

Bonnie Ginger

Boothbay