Latest Susan Collins News

Senate passes Social Security benefits boost for many public service retirees

Dec. 21, 2024 01:13 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed legislation early Saturday to boost Social Security payments for millions of people, pushing a longtime priority for former public employees through Congress in one of its last acts for the year. The bipartisan bill, which next heads to President...

The Latest: Trump-backed plan on government shutdown fails in House vote

Dec. 19, 2024 23:04 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump abruptly rejected a bipartisan plan Wednesday to prevent a government shutdown, instead telling House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans to essentially renegotiate — days before a deadline when federal funding runs out. The...

Hegseth meets with moderate Sen. Collins as he lobbies for key votes in the Senate

Dec. 11, 2024 17:17 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Defense Department, said he had a “wonderful conversation” with Maine Sen. Susan Collins on Wednesday as he pushed to win enough votes for confirmation. He said he will not back down after allegations of...

Editorial Roundup: United States

Dec. 10, 2024 20:42 PM EST

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad: ___ Dec. 6 The Washington Post on the Senate and a shrinking window to protect press freedom In 2021, Attorney General Merrick Garland established new, but long-needed, press...

Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick for intel chief, faces questions on Capitol Hill amid Syria fallout

Dec. 09, 2024 21:43 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump's pick for intelligence chief, Tulsi Gabbard, faced fresh scrutiny Monday on Capitol Hill about her proximity to Russian-ally Syria amid the sudden collapse of that country's hardline Assad rule. Gabbard ignored shouted questions about...

Trump's defense pick Pete Hegseth faces deepening scrutiny in Senate

Dec. 04, 2024 07:38 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Defense Secretary, spent a second day on Capitol Hill, meeting privately with Republican senators amid rising questions about his ability to effectively lead the Pentagon. Hegseth told reporters Tuesday that he...

Trump and Republican senators plan agenda for first 30 days

Dec. 03, 2024 20:09 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump dialed in to what was described as a “love fest” Tuesday with Senate Republicans as they begin laying the groundwork for control of government in the new year, and a potential first-30-days agenda. Trump's brief call was more...

Trump team signs agreement to allow Justice to conduct background checks on nominees, staff

Dec. 03, 2024 16:34 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump's transition team on Tuesday signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weeks-long delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration...

Conservatives love him. Liberals disdain him. For residents of Maine town, it's more complicated

Nov. 27, 2024 00:06 AM EST

NORTHEAST HARBOR, Maine (AP) — When Donald Trump was elected president earlier this month, Caroline Pryor’s mind turned immediately to the man who lives down the road — Leonard Leo. Few people in America have done more to advance conservative causes than Leo. Years ago, the...

Republicans rally around Hegseth, Trump's Pentagon pick, as Gaetz withdraws for attorney general

Nov. 21, 2024 16:16 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s allies on Capitol Hill rallied around Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Pentagon pick, on Thursday even as new details surfaced about allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. The GOP embrace of Hegseth came as another...