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Sen. Collins blames Democrats for stalled negotiations on DHS funding bill

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio, Associated Press


Sen. Susan Collins is calling on lawmakers to pass a DHS funding bill that would end a partial government shutdown.

Collins released a statement Friday after the Senate voted to fund most of DHS, including wages for TSA workers.

Collins, who chairs the appropriations committee, blamed Democrats for triggering the shutdown when they walked away from a bipartisan funding bill.

“Republicans offered proposals to expand the use of body-worn cameras; limit civil immigration enforcement in sensitive areas such as schools and hospitals; increase oversight of detention facilities; and implement visible officer identification.

“While Republicans worked in good faith to try to reach agreement, Democrats remained intransigent and unreasonable with their list of demands.”

The House on Friday rejected the latest spending package and instead proposed a stopgap to keep DHS funded for eight more weeks.

Collins’ comments came the same week President Trump praised her while speaking on FOX News’ The Five.

Trump called Collins a “good person” who has to win in the fall to keep Republican control of the Senate.

Progressive Graham Platner and Gov. Janet Mills are vying for the Democratic nomination to take on Collins.

A recent Emerson poll had Platner with a 7 point lead over Collins in a hypothetical general election matchup and Gov. Mills with a 3 point lead over Collins.

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