Mainers: Collins is to Blame for Her Own “Concerns” on RFK Jr. and OMB Director Russ Vought

Augusta, Maine - Mainers are calling out Susan Collins for feigning "concern" over the harmful actions of Trump administration officials that she voted to confirm - including RFK Jr. and OMB Director Russ Vought.

• Mainer Lynn Johnson in Portland Press Herald:

  • "Sen. Susan Collins is no longer her usual 'concerned.' Now she's 'extremely alarmed' that President Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have fired the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after just weeks on the job. And that led to the resignations of four other CDC officials.

  • "Who is to blame for all this? Sen. Susan Collins. She voted to approve Kennedy."

• Mainer Rev. Charles Stephens in Bangor Daily News:

  • "I think it is important for all Maine voters to remember that Sen. Susan Collins voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary. I also believe we need to hold her responsible for his actions and his lies.

  • "I encourage everyone to call or write Sen. Collins and remind her that she should be held responsible for endangering the health of Mainers and all Americans because she voted to confirm Kennedy and has not done enough to stop the Republican administration's spreading of inaccurate information through his actions."

• Mainer Karen Jo Young in Bangor Daily News:

  • "Sen. Susan Collins voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. [...] she must have had the information about his history of anti-vaccination views, his spreading of misinformation about COVID [...] This was all known before she voted to confirm him.

  • "What's that expression? Fool me once (Brett Kavanaugh), shame on you. Fool me twice (Kennedy), shame on me. But really, I think Collins should have known better with Kavanaugh as well.

  • "So in conclusion, now that the health of the nation is at grave risk, I believe Collins must apologize to her constituents and do all you can to get Kennedy out and replace him with a responsible, pro-science professional."

• Reporting from Portland Press Herald: "Collins voted to confirm Vought, despite his views that the president can withhold congressionally appropriated funding that he does not support."

• Reporting from Bangor Daily News: "Susan Collins voted for Donald Trump's budget chief. Now she doesn't like his cuts."

Here's what to know:

• Collins says she's "concerned" about OMB Director Russ Vought's plan to skirt the appropriations process - but his plans were clear when she voted to confirm him.

• Collins feigned concerns at RFK Jr.'s CDC ouster - but said she had zero regrets for her vote to confirm him, even after he slashed cancer funding, eliminated Maine jobs, and canceled $91 million in funding for Maine public health programs.

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