by Jonathan Reisman

To paraphrase Don McLean in American Pie, “February makes me shiver.” February has Groundhog Day (the rodent predicted at least six more years of relentless climate catastrophe propaganda following every storm), Valentine’s Day (the legacy media is embarrassing itself with its slobbering embrace and protection of Joe Biden), and President’s Day, (which will probably be celebrating mandated electric vehicle sales).

Here are a few other items that are giving me chills:

The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Weaponization of Government published a report showing that the Biden administration is actively engaged in efforts to censor and suppress information that counters their policy narratives on Covid, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Trump, the border, and more, with the full cooperation of Amazon and Facebook. In other words, the same people who have been falsely accusing Republicans of banning books and promoting dis- and misinformation are doing exactly that. Perhaps the grievously wounded and backstabbed First Amendment will cry out, “Et tu, Joe?”  

The firm of McConnell and Schumer (as Senator Mike Lee coined them) crafted a $118 billion border bill to reduce illegal immigration to perhaps half the current levels, fund migrant ally NGO’s and build the Trump Border Wall ($20 billion), fund the Ukrainian forever war/kleptocracy ($60 billion) and Israel ($14 billion). The balance of some $24 billion would go to Taiwan and Gaza/Hamas aid. The bill would relieve the Biden administration of the charge that they deliberately opened the border and refused to enforce existing immigration law. The tri-partisan  (Independent Kyrsten Sinema joined Republican James Lankford and Democrat Chris Murphy in writing the bill) Biden rescue effort steadily lost support as its elements were finally revealed, but it’s not over till the fat lady screeches.

The Legislature’s Veteran and Legal Affairs Committee held a work session on LD 1578, The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, and split along party lines to give a divided report. Five Democrats, including House Chair Laura Supica (Bangor) and Lynne Williams (Bar Harbor), voted “ought to pass as amended” with technical amendments. Three Democrats, including Senate Chair Craig Hickman (Kennebec), voted “ought to pass as amended” with technical changes plus a statewide referendum. All five Republicans, including Senator Jeff Timberlake (Androscoggin), Representatives John Andrews (Paris), David Boyer (Poland), Benjamin Hymes (Waldo), and Shelley Rudnicki (Fairfield), voted “ought not to pass.” The bill now goes to the House, where a handful of 2nd CD Democrats will determine whether right-of-center voters in the 2nd CD will be disenfranchised. With both Democratic Senators voting for a referendum, there is the possibility that the Senate and House may not agree on which version should become law, which is what killed the NPV in 2019. Apparently, the Democratic majority, left-of-center voters, and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows have no objections to this effort to protect “our Democracy”- they are, in fact, cheering it on. Should the amended NPV pass and garner Governor Mills approval, a referendum promises to divide Maine even further, with the likely prospect of the 2nd District voting no and being disenfranchised by a heavy 1st District approval.

Senator Collins responded to my request that she sponsor legislation calling for Congressional approval of the NPV, as the Compact Clause of the Constitution requires. Her response was more responsive than either Senator King's or Representative Golden's, and I was able to pass it on to the VLA committee before they voted. Here is what she wrote: 

Dear Jon,

Thank you for your effort on the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.  This is, as your testimony very clearly pointed out, a truly bad idea and an attempt to circumvent the Constitution.

The thought that Maine would engage in a process that further erodes its clout in presidential elections seems very short-sighted indeed.  Many of the organizers of this effort are trying to make it more difficult for anyone right of center to win an election.  Others seem to be motivated by a desire to "improve" or "simplify" the process (imagine how "simple" a national recount would be).  To them, I would say that the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is a solution in search of a problem.  I love Maine's (and Nebraska's) system of voting for president – it makes no sense to throw out the best system in the nation for voting for president to replace it with what is currently the worst. 

Thank you again for sharing your testimony on this issue.

Sincerely, 

Susan Collins