Not every Republican wants to follow Donald Trump’s lead of holding firm against opening the government. That makes sense. Several of them come from blue states and need to buck the president, especially as 2020 looms closer. This is one of those senators.
On NBC’s Meet the Press, Chuck Todd asked Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) about the government shutdown:
‘WATCH: Chuck Todd asks Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) if it’s time for the White House to move forward on stalled shutdown negotiations.
#MTP@SenatorCollins: “It is not a sign of weakness to try to figure out a middle ground.”’
WATCH: Chuck Todd asks Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) if it’s time for the White House to move forward on stalled shutdown negotiations. #MTP@SenatorCollins: “It is not a sign of weakness to try to figure out a middle ground” pic.twitter.com/aaNSLaMR58
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) January 6, 2019
Collins said she understood Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) problem:
‘I’m frustrated in the situation that we’ve gotten to this point where both sides appear to be intransigent. It is not a sign of weakness to figure out a middle ground. I think that both sides need to indicate a willingness to listen and to compromise.’
The Maine senator argued that Congress needed to pass an appropriations bill, so that a shutdown could not be used as a threat or a weapon. Additionally, a new law would prevent any president from arbitrarily shutting the government down.
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Featured image is a screenshot via YouTube.
