Democratic Senate Candidate Shenna Bellows Held a Press Conference in Portland on Monday Calling on Collins to Support the Udall Amendment

Press Release

After taking more than $1.9 million from business PAC sources this election as of June 30, a figure sure to climb throughout the race, Susan Collins voted in lockstep with Senate Republicans today to block Sen. Tom Udall's effort to allow reasonable congressional and state regulation of political spending. Republicans filibustered Udall's Constitutional amendment to overturn the divisive Citizens United Supreme Court decision 42-54.

Democratic Senate candidate Shenna Bellows held a press conference in Portland on Monday calling on Collins to support the Udall amendment. As of June 30, according to OpenSecrets, Bellows had outraised Collins in small grassroots contributions $357,713 (27 percent of Bellows' total) to $123,536 (2 percent of Collins' total).

"If you want to know whose side politicians are on, follow the money," Bellows said after the vote. "Our elections should be about everyday people supporting the candidates and the campaigns they care about, not massive corporate PAC checks overrunning the system with dark money. Senate Democrats tried to put electoral power back in the hands of the people today, and Susan Collins joined her Republican leaders in saying no. Mainers demand leadership on cleaning up our electoral system, and that's what I'll provide every day I'm in Washington."

"Despite years of verbal support, Susan Collins still hasn't found a reform effort she's willing to vote for," said Bellows campaign manager Katie Mae Simpson. "She voted against the DISCLOSE Act twice in 2012, she voted against the Udall Amendment today, and she won't offer any reason beyond Republican Party talking points. She should be a leader on this issue instead of voting with Mitch McConnell and the Republicans in Washington over Mainers' interests when it really matters."

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