LETTER TO THE EDITOR: The damage two can do

OPINION:

Once again, Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Olympia Snowe have thwarted the Republican Party (“Senate OKs vote on cash to states,” Page 1, Thursday). Their votes in support of the recent $26 billion stimulus bill demonstrate yet again that these two are Republicans in name only.

What is the difficulty in keeping them alongside the minority party on critical votes? Is there some under-the-table deal that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid uses to attract their support? It’s too bad Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has been so unsuccessful in using the theoretical 40-vote strategy because of these two. Obviously, the two senators have no significant concern over party retaliation.

JOSEPH C. FENRICK JR.

Capitol Heights, Md.