A US Senator from Maine is showing concern over the potential loss of her reelection campaign.
Despite Donald Trump initiating a conflict with Iran without consulting Democrats, Sen. Susan Collins believes a $200 billion allocation for the war effort should receive bipartisan support.
PoliticusUSA’s news and opinions are 100% independent. Support us by becoming a subscriber.
The Trump administration will soon request funding for the Iran war, and some Republicans are hesitant to use a party-line budget reconciliation process. “That would not be my preference. I understand the need to get this through, but it seems to me that it would be best to go through the appropriations process,” Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, R-Maine, told Semafor.
Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., shared this view but anticipated Democratic opposition: “It’s probably going to have to be a party-line reconciliation push, unfortunately.” As Republicans consider the $200 billion figure the Pentagon presented to the White House, Collins is questioning whether funding for the intelligence community, farm aid, and Pell Grants will be included in the package. “The administration will need to make its case. Clearly, there’s going to need to be additional spending,” said Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo.
Republicans view Trump’s war as politically disadvantageous in the midterm elections and are wary of being seen as its sole financial backers. By involving Democrats, they hope to share the responsibility.
The bipartisan support Collins seeks for funding a war opposed by most Americans and Democrats was largely absent when Democrats attempted to prevent health insurance premiums from rising for over 20 million Americans.
Here are the votes that Sen. Collins cast:
