Speculation is swirling about Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) potentially changing her vote to "no" on the GOP tax plan. The Senator’s spokesperson says Collins remains uncommitted and is waiting to see how the bill changes in committee.
The possibility that Collins could end up opposing the bill is giving some protesters hope.
"There’s always a little bit of hope – that’s why we’re here," said Isabella McCann, a Bowdoin college student protesting the tax bill at Collins’ Portland office Friday.
Twice this week, protesters staged a sit-in at one of Collins' offices. A group of five were arrested and charged for refusing to leave the Senator's office in Bangor. Thursday night, nine clergy members staged a similar protest and were arrested.
"We all have a lot of poor people in our congregation, so we feel it’s our duty to speak on behalf of them," said Rev. Christina Sillari, of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist church.
Collins initially supported the Senate plan because she received a promise from party leaders that her amendments would be included, and that the party would vote on two additional pieces of legislation to mitigate the effects of the tax bill.
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) reportedly said this week that he never committed to the Collins deal, raising some questions about the future of her conditions.
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Annie Clark, a spokesperson for the Senator, said Collins remains confident that her amendments will be included. She said the Senator is waiting to see the full picture of the bill that emerges from committee before declaring how she will vote.
