Round and Round

Last November:

As of today, Matt is now serving as the Director of New Media Communications for United States Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) in her Washington, DC office.

Yesterday:

@MatthewGagnon: Excited to announce I'll be the new conservative columnist for my home town paper, @bangordailynews. You'll see me every Friday!

Years ago:

"In the 1996 senatorial race...[BDN] again [intervened] on behalf of Collins on both its editorial page and in its reporting and analysis.

Cynics of all party affiliations could see a pattern in subsequent events. The managing editor of BDN, Mark Woodward, went on after the election to become communications director for Senator Collins--although he soon returned to the old job."

Collins Backs $3.7 Trillion In Cuts

It's still not clear what the so-called "Gang of Six" deficit reduction plan is--and what it isn't.

But in any case, Sen. Collins is embracing it:

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has signed a letter backing a bipartisan plan in the Senate that aims to cut the deficit by at least $3.7 trillion over 10 years through a mix of spending cuts and increased revenues from closing some tax loopholes.

The Maine Republican is one of 33 senators, 15 of them Republicans, to sign the letter, as the Senate searches for a compromise plan to hike the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling and avoid a federal debt default looming on Aug. 2.

This seems like smart politics: The plan has little chance of passing, and even if it does, its lack of specificity gives Collins plenty of wiggle room to decry the cuts to entitlements and other programs that it would inevitably require.

If it doesn't pass, Collins can point to her support as evidence of her fiscal conservatism. And then go back to voting for all of the tax cuts and nearly all of the big ticket programs.

Friends In High Places

Lobbyist Jane Alonso, Sen. Collins' former legislative director, has been promoted to senior vice president at her lobbying firm:

"Jane has played an invaluable role with the Senate, in particular on a wide range of issues from energy to health care to telecommunications and has helped the firm land significant new business in these growth areas for the firm," said founder Stewart Verdery in a statement.