Flexing ‘political juice,’ Collins secures majority of Maine’s outsized earmarks

By: Emma Davis

Outlets: Maine Morning Star

Published: February 24, 2026

Words: 1,035

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 3 days ago

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Last winter, the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress cut all earmarks for community projects, upending Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins’ otherwise steadily growing appropriations power during President Donald Trump’s second term.

This winter, earmarks are back. Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee and is running for a sixth term this year, secured more than $425 million out of the $460 million total Maine received for 2026.

Maine received the ninth most earmarks, formally referred …

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