U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is being targeted by advertising and telephone campaigns as the political battle over the Republican tax plan heats up.
One TV ad airing in Maine urges Collins to vote for the Senate Republican tax plan, touting it as a tax cut. Another ad from a different political action committee denounces both the Senate and House versions of tax legislation.
“Thankfully, Sen. Susan Collins told us that she would say no to tax breaks for the wealthiest. Call her and tell her not to lose her way,” the ad said.
In an interview with Maine Public Radio, Collins said, as a moderate, she is used to groups trying to pressure her to vote for against various issues and nominees.
“There are ad campaigns urging me to vote against the bill and ad campaigns and telephone campaigns urging me to vote for the bill. I am used to that. That is what happens when you are in the center,” she said.
Collins said she does not expect either the Senate or the House tax bill to be passed as drafted. She said she and several other senators have concerns about one or more provisions in the draft legislation.
For example, Collins said she wants more of the tax cuts to go to middle-income taxpayers. She said she would pay for that by keeping the current highest tax rate on incomes over a million dollars a year.
She also said she does not like tacking repeal of the health care mandate onto the tax legislation.
“You’re right that I have problems with each of the versions of the bill, but I don’t think at the end of the day that’s the choice I am going to be confronted with. The choice I am going to be confronted with will be an amended bill,” Collins said.
She said she is already working on amendments she will offer when the Senate takes up tax changes next week. One would continue to allow taxpayers to deduct state and local taxes on their federal returns, but would include a cap. She also said she wants to see the corporate tax rate lowered from the current rate of 35 percent, but said she’s not sure by how much.
Resolving that question will be part of the discussion in the weeks ahead.
This story was originally published Nov. 20, 2017 at 5:13 p.m. ET.
