Collins: Tax Cuts Trump All

Gerald catches Sens. Snowe and Collins committing to block all new legislation not related to spending until billionaires get tax cuts.

And that isn't hyperbole. It's their position:

We write to inform you that we will not agree to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to any legislative item until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers. With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities. While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate's attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike.

That means no "don't ask don't tell" repeal. It means no vote on New Start.

Of course, the tax "hike" is on the books. Collins voted for the law that put it in place.

But fresh tax breaks for the wealthy (to the tune of several hundred billion dollars) are now so crucial--so important to the future of the country--that the junior senator will simply sit on her hands until they're enacted.

Now that's moderate bipartisan centrism!

UPDATE: Just kidding? A Collins spokesman tells Greg Sargent that contrary to the text of the letter above, the junior senator could in fact support repeal of "don't ask don't tell" without tax cuts.

This is exactly the kind of (deliberate?) incoherence I referenced yesterday.