The issue of drone strikes and their legality remains front and center among the intelligence community at the moment.  As members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Maine's two senators are weighing in.  Independent Angus King has come out in support of a proposed secret civilian court, which would review President Barack Obama's deadly drone strikes against Americans linked to al-Qaida.  Republican Sen. Susan Collins says the idea was first raised by committee Chair Diane Feinstein.  And, in an interview with Maine Things Considered host Tom Porter, Collins says she supports it.

Maine's two Democratic House members have been less vocal on the drone issue. Congresswoman Chellie Pingree issued this statement:
 
"I don't believe there has been enough oversight of the President's use of drones overseas. There is a strong role for Congressional oversight on the part of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees and perhaps the creation of some sort of outside body to review the policy for use of drones. I don't believe the President's hands should be tied, but I also don't believe he should be allowed to act completely without oversight or review.

"I do have serious reservations about the expansion of drone use to civilian use here in the United States, as some have suggested. I don't think many people will be comfortable about being under constant surveillance walking down the street or having a cookout in their backyard."