Collins' opposition to Build Back Better puts her on 'Naughty List,' Maine union says

Members of the Maine Service Employees Association-SEIU Local 1989 and other advocates rallied in front of Sen. Susan Collins’ office in Augusta on Tuesday to call for the Maine Republican to support the Build Back Better Act and approve voting rights legislation.

The event, which was attended by about a dozen people, featured an MSEA member delivering a letter to Collins’ office signed by Santa Claus, who expressed his disappointment that the senator has not supported important priorities, such as Build Back Better — President Joe Biden’s proposed legislation that would make much-needed investments in the country’s social safety net and address the escalating threat of climate change.

“This year you are on my Naughty List. This is for not supporting your constituents’ needs as much as you can, a real shame. I was disappointed to see your lack of support for the PRO Act, the American Rescue Plan, and Build Back Better, among other issues,” the letter reads, referencing a bill that would make it easier to form a union and the COVID-19 relief measure passed earlier this year.

However, Santa expressed hope that Collins would have a change of heart on Build Back Better and the PRO Act along with voting rights legislation such as the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which are meant to combat a wave of efforts to restrict the franchise in GOP-led states across the country. Collins has joined with Republicans multiple times this year to prevent voting rights legislation from even being heard on the Senate floor. However, Democrats have vowed to bring back efforts to combat voter suppression for consideration in the Senate early next year.

Read more: https://mainebeacon.com/collins-opposition-to-build-back-better-puts-her-on-naughty-list-maine-union-says/