Does anyone have an email address for Olympia Snowe? Her message box if now full.
Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), a senior Finance Committee member, is working with Senate and committee leadership to adjust the tax provisions in the economic stimulus legislation in order to garner enough support to pass a compromise in the Senate. Leadership is also working with the Appropriations Committee to strip an additional $63 billion from the package for total reductions nearing the $100 billion figure Senator Snowe raised in a private one-on-one meeting in the Oval Office with President Obama Wednesday afternoon. Snowe discussed her concerns with Majority Leader Harry Reid this morning and made it clear the package needs work before it can be approved.
"I was approached this morning and asked to work directly with leadership to amend the tax section of the stimulus bill in order to develop compromise language that could pass the Senate," Senator Snowe said. "The total reductions sought by leadership will closely resemble the amount I recommended to the President during our meeting on Wednesday. This is a critical time for our nation. Our economy shed another 598,000 jobs last month - the most since 1974 - propelling the national unemployment rate to 7.6 percent. Until we deliver to the American people an economic stimulus package that spurs significant job creation and helps those most affected during these trying economic times, I will continue to work, as I have for months, with leadership and the Administration."