Susan Collins

Sen. Susan Collins and her Maine colleague Olympia Snowe are the two Republicans considered most likely to vote in favor of a climate bill this year.

Collins was one of just seven Republicans to vote in favor of moving forward with the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act in 2008.  A strong supporter of environmental legislation over the years, she was the only Republican senator to get an endorsement from the League of Conservation Voters in 2008, and she got perfect marks on LCV’s scorecard in 2007 and 2008.

Collins is also one of the few Republicans who has demonstrated a willingness to work with the Democratic majority to shape and pass legislation this year. She played a crucial role in crafting the stimulus bill earlier this year (for better or worse), and was one of only three Republicans to vote for it.

This year, Collins has been adamant that she and other Republicans should play a role in shaping the climate bill, and she spoke out against the proposal to pass climate legislation as part of the budget reconciliation process. “It’s a bad mistake to try to cut out the Republicans and cut off debate and limit amendments on such an important bill, and I say that as a supporter of cap-and-trade,” she said.

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Enviros like what they’re hearing from Collins.  “Climate change is the most significant environmental challenge facing our planet,” she told college graduates recently.

If backers of a climate bill can’t get Collins on board, you’ll know they’re in trouble.

Do you know more about this senator’s stance on climate legislation?  Tell us.

Find out about other senators by clicking on their names in the right column.

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