Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins says she does not support proposals to do away with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Her support was expressed yesterday at a press conference in Freeport, where she accompanied U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on his visit to Maine.
A number of Republican presidential hopefuls have criticized the EPA, including Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who's called for an immediate ban on environmental regulation, claiming it's killing jobs across America.
Collins, though, says environmental laws like the Clean Air Act have done a lot for the state of Maine. "
If you grew up in Maine, as I did, you remember the days when our rivers were brown and foamy, and now they're sparkling and clean, and available for recreational purposes," she said. "So there's no doubt that those landmark laws have made a huge difference for our state, and I do not support proposals to do away with the EPA."
But Collins said she thinks some new EPA regulations--such as ones regarding boilers--are too costly and go far beyond what is necessary.