Maine: Collins

The New Republic has noticed Snowe and Collins taking on Rush Limbaugh in the Press Herald.

At the moment, it seems like they're the only ones in the Republican Party willing to do so.

AUGUSTA, Maine — Utilities in northern Maine want guarantees that their customers would receive some form of compensation if connecting to New England’s power grid results in higher rates locally.

But opponents of a bill heard by a legislative committee Thursday predicted the measure will actually harm northern Maine residents by discouraging enormous investment in wind power and undermining efforts to build more stability into the state’s electric grid.

“Having rebates or compensation in northern Maine doesn’t mean a thing if the lights are off,” said David Allen, a representative for Central Maine Power.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission recently dismissed an application by Maine Public Service Co.

Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins voted last week to give Washington D.C. a representative in the U.S. House.

Snowe and Collins were two of only six Republicans to support the measure. The New York Times reports that a similar bill is certain to pass the House and that President Barack Obama has indicated he will sign it.

However, the measure will end up in court as part of a Constitutional battle over whether DC can be granted a representative even though it is not a state.

The Senate version also gave Utah another seat, which would increase the size of the House from 435 to 437.

Did Snowe and Collins do the right thing?

Opportunity Maine, the non-partisan organization working to expand educational opportunity and upgrade the skills of Maine's workforce, has analyzed the stimulus package sector by sector as to how it will complement Maine's existing programs, and how the State can in some cases leverage these to garner more stimulus funds. The analysis is here (pdf warning).

For example:

Weatherization Assistance Program/State Energy Program. $5 billion will be allocated by formula to WAP, $3.1 billion will be allocated by formula to SEP. Senator Collins's office projects that $42.8 million in WAP money and $27.5 in SEP money will be allocated to Maine for the biennium. WAP eligibility rises to 200% of FPL, and maximum benefit rises from $2,500 to $6,500.