Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Collins Conundrum

One of the frustrating things about trying to write intelligently about Sen. Collins--I said trying--is that she's incredibly hard to pin down. And the stimulus is a perfect example.

First, we hear she wants to expand the bill and add more infrastructure. Then we're told that she wants more infrastructure at the expense of other programs. And this week we learn that she wants a significantly smaller bill with infrastructure cuts.

What principle can accommodate all three stances? From what substantive critique of the current bill could all three positions possibly stem?

And if it's not about substance, what is it about?

One thing is clear: It can't just be about getting to sixty votes to avert a filibuster. Because if Collins herself votes for cloture, it means the bill almost undoubtedly already has the 60 votes it needs to come to a vote. (A vote it will win by a very healthy margin.)

So it can't be about trying to help the bill pass. The junior senator must have some other reason for pressing for cuts to stimulative spending during the worst economic crisis in generations.

It would be nice if she told someone in the press what that reason is.

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