Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine

On Saturday night, Senate Democrats squeaked by with the exact number of votes they needed to begin debate on their health care bill. But they'd prefer to not repeat that when it comes time to vote on the bill's passage. So Harry Reid and Co. have set their eyes north, on Maine. After Saturday's vote, Reid personally reached out to Maine's GOP Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, who voted no on Saturday like all the rest of the Senate Republicans. But unlike most of their colleagues, they're not treating the Democrats's bill like some kind of second coming of small pox. Collins, whose ... Read Full Story

Below is my letter to Maine Senator Olympia Snowe after the defeat of ballot question 1 overturned marriage equality in Maine.  Please feel free to send similar letters to her and Maine Senator Susan Collins.  They both remained mum on the vote.    ----------------------------------   November 4, 2009   The Honorable Olympia J. Snowe United States Senate 154 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC   20510-1903   Dear Senator Snowe,               I would like to be able to thank you for your support of the civil rights of Mainers regarding the vote on marriage equality on November 3, 2009.   I would like ... Read Full Story

Photo: snowe.senate.gov U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine bristled at Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s litmus test for deciding whether she can call herself a Republican. “I’ve been a lifelong Republican. I haven’t changed. I don’t know what the problem is. I really don’t,” Snowe told the Politico. “Other Republicans could probably borrow more from me … in terms of being in touch with your constituents.” Snowe gave Pawlenty an out: ”I know Gov. Pawlenty to be a thoughtful person, and I know if he could have rephrased it or re-characterized it he would.” Print Leave a comment Follow us on Twitter Become a fan on ... Read Full Story

Fair warning to U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe: Gov. Tim Pawlenty is watching you. “We want Olympia Snowe in the big tent,” he told MSNBC’s Morning Joe today, “but she can’t say she’s a Republican and vote against the Republican position much of the time.” Also in cable-news drama today, Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson has another reunion with her old Anoka babysitter, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann. Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning … MINNEAPOLIS : Ready, set … IRV ! Minnesota’s biggest city now has Minnesota’s biggest ballot. [Star Tribune] ORTONVILLE : Big Stone II left unturned . Breath easy: the coal-burning power ... Read Full Story

Editor’s Note: Republished from The Hill with the express permission of Brent Budowsky. Who is the boss of the Democratic White House? Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe (Maine). Who is the boss of the Democratic Senate? Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe. Meanwhile, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), who one year ago was slandering the Democratic nominee for president while supporting the Republican nominee, chooses this key moment to tell us he opposes even the weak Finance Committee healthcare bill. The star of this Fellini-esque film we call government controlled by Democrats is the president, who has betrayed his own rhetoric for the public option to try to ... Read Full Story

Washington Post - As Health Vote Nears, Fellow Lawmakers Wonder Where Snowe Will Fall Excerpt: "Everyone on Capitol Hill is wondering how Sen. Olympia J. Snowe will vote on the Senate Finance Committee's health-care reform bill once the big day arrives, likely within the next week. The Maine Republican is the only member of her party considered to be a serious conversion prospect. But although Snowe supported Democrats on many key amendments during the committee's two-week debate on the legislation, she's being cryptic about her intentions -- to say the least. "Did they get in my brain yet?" she wondered of all the speculators, ... Read Full Story

After yesterday’s (not) surprising “I’m a yes” vote by Sen. Olympia Snowe (not really R-Maine), on the health bill vote in the Senate Finance Committee, another so-called “Republican” from the politically confused State of Maine has said she will back massive government health care reform. Senator Susan Collins (not really R-Maine) told The Associated Press today that the bill approved Tuesday by the Finance Committee needs “substantial improvements” to make coverage more affordable, contain costs, and protect Medicare. “My hope is we that can fix the flaws in the bill and come together with a truly bipartisan bill that could garner widespread support,” Collins ... Read Full Story