Topline
Sen. Susan Collins (Republican from Maine) stated Thursday that she opposed the Supreme Court's decision to remove a Texas law prohibiting nearly all abortions. Critics pointed out her support of Justice Brett Kavanaugh as a key factor in the Supreme Court's decision.
UNITED STATES – JULY 28: Left to right, Senators. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan... [+] Collins (R-Maine), Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) announce an agreement to an infrastructure bill at a news conference held in the Capitol on Wednesday July 28, 2021. (Photo by Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images. CQ Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
The Key Facts
Collins stated in a Forbes statement that the Texas law banning abortions at the first fetal heartbeat detection, well before most women know they are pregnant, was extreme and harmful. She also opposed the Supreme Courts decision. Collins pointed out that the majority opinion of the Court's five most conservative justices did not address the law's constitutionality. It said that it was too early to know if the state could or would seek to enforce Texas law in a way that allows us to intervene. Collins also said the Court should stop the law from being implemented while the underlying procedural and constitutional questions are being litigated by lower courts. Critics highlighted Collins' 2018 vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh and her confidence that it wouldn't result in the Court overturning abortion rights. Collins and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R. Alaska) were the only GOP votes against confirming Justice Amy Coney Barrett. However, her opposition was rooted in the timing of that vote, rather than Barrett's views.
Important Background
Collins, along with Murkowski Sens, was one of the decisive votes in Kavanaugh's confirmation. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). She spoke for nearly an hour, saying that she was confident Kavanaugh wouldn't vote to repeal the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion decision. He argued that justices are constitutionally mandated to look at precedent.
Important Quote
"I believe that a lot people on the left have been wrong about the court's respect for precedent. When Collins was asked last month about Roe's possible overturning, Collins stated that they would consider precedent.
Big Number
7. This is the total number of Supreme Court justices Collins has voted for since she entered the Senate. She voted to confirm six justices currently serving on the bench, including three Roberts and Kagan. Three Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh, were among the minority. Barrett was in the majority.
