Chris of Harpswell, ME Collins voted against cloture on the Senate amendment to the House Farm bill while Snowe voted for it. There was also an important amendment by Senator Dorgan to increase spending on nutrition programs, beginning farmer program, farmers markets, and agricultural conservation. It was paid for by limiting farmers payments under the commodity payment program to $250,000 per year.

This amendment got 56 votes which was excellent, including Susan Collins, although 60 were needed. However Olympia Snowe voted against this amendment in spite of the fact there must be only a handful of Maine farmers who receive more than $250,000 per year in federal agricultural commodity payments, if any.

Most federal agricultural commodity payments in Maine seem to be to subsidize the growing of corn, even though corn is probably at record high prices. Ethanol production is currently dependent on sugar - like sugar cane and marginally corn.report abuse

jimmy of randolph, ME its about time collins did something other than just following bush and the rest of those rat republicans.report abuse