How to Make Sue Collins Office Scream at You
1: call DC (202-225-2523) and identify yourself as a Maine resident. this step is important, as many Senators like to pretend their votes only affect residents of their state. since that’s clearly not true, it’s fair game to masquerade as a resident to get the information you want and need. Scroll down to the bottom of Swine Flu Sue’s homepage, click on a city and use that zip-code. I am partial to Portland.
2: Point out that you remember that you saw an interview with Sue Collins at her senate website in which she brags to the WSJ about getting pandemic funds cut from the stimulus (she scrubbed it but John Nichols found it):
Sen. Collins, a centrist with allies in both parties, was called to the White House Wednesday to meet with Mr. Obama. She envisions holding the cost of the stimulus package to $700 billion or less, well below the $819 billion package of tax cuts and spending the House approved last week.
The target grew out of discussions among a group of moderate Republicans, led by Sen. Collins, aimed at reining in costs and better targeting federal funds toward job creation. The effort amounts to “rebuilding” the Obama package, according to an individual familiar with the talks. The package would include tax cuts and investments intended to create jobs, such as infrastructure projects, but it would step back from spending projects that don’t immediately lift the sagging U.S. economy.
After meeting with Mr. Obama, Sen. Collins expressed concern about a number of spending provisions, including $780 million for pandemic-flu preparedness. “I have no doubt that the president is willing to negotiate in good faith, that he wants to have a bipartisan bill,” Sen. Collins said.
3: Point out that that particular article is now missing from her website, but the articles immediately preceding and following remain.
4: Tell them you have a cache and then begin reading from it:
5: Take your ear away from the phone, because Sue Collins’ staff tends to yell A LOT when you ask them why the article was scrubbed. Be prepared to talk over someone as you tell them you sent the screenshot to everyone you know in Maine. Also, be prepared for the most insincere “have a nice day” you have ever received.
Update: another fun option is to use this quote:
“Does it belong in this bill? Should we have $870 million in this bill? No, we should not.”
So if you live in Maine, you know who to blame if your kids, family, or friends get sick: Swine Flu Sue.
April 28th, 2009 at 6:43 am
[...] makes a phone call and calls out a Republican for boasting about getting pandemic funds pulled from the stimulus [...]