On June 30 and July 1, 2025, Susan Collins voted against a motion to keep the One Big Beautiful Bill Act from adding to the deficit, against restoring the expanded Child Tax Credit, and against an amendment to extend the enhanced health insurance tax credits, which expired at the end of 2025.
On July 1, 2025, Collins said she strongly supports extending the tax relief in the bill's tax title, which sends most of its net tax cuts to the richest fifth of Americans.
Susan Collins's Votes and Statements on Taxes and the National Debt
- Collins Voted Against Requiring the Bill Not to Add to the Deficit in June 2025. On June 30, 2025, Susan Collins voted no on Senator Alex Padilla's motion to make the bill "not increase the deficit" over 2025-2034 against current law, and it failed 47 to 53. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the law adds $3.4 trillion to deficits through 2034 and $4.1 trillion with interest; its February 2026 update puts the addition to the debt at $4.2 trillion through 2034.
- Collins Voted Against Restoring the Expanded Child Tax Credit in July 2025. On July 1, 2025, Collins voted no on Senator Michael Bennet's motion to raise the Child Tax Credit to "match levels of the expanded Child Tax Credit," paid for by corporations and the wealthy, and it failed 47 to 53. The law instead raised the credit to $2,200. Brookings and the Tax Policy Center write that 17 million children were in low-income families that received less than the full credit or no credit at all and thus would not benefit from the law's change.
- Collins Voted Against an Amendment to Extend the Health Insurance Tax Credits in June 2025. On June 30, 2025, Collins voted no on waiving the budget rules for an amendment to "extend the enhanced premium tax credits," paid for by a higher tax rate on income above $10 million, and it failed 47 to 53. The credits expired at the end of 2025, and average premium payments for marketplace enrollees rose 58% in 2026.
- Collins Voted Against a Rule Against Record Debt in April 2025. On April 4, 2025, Collins voted no on Senator Jeff Merkley's point of order against legislation creating more debt over 30 years than the country accumulated in its first 249 years, and it failed 46 to 53. The Congressional Budget Office projects that federal interest costs will more than double from $970 billion in 2025 to $2.1 trillion by 2036, a path that reflects the 2025 law along with tariffs and other changes.
- Collins Voted Against Returning Unspent Immigration-Enforcement Money to Cut the Deficit in June 2026. On June 5, 2026, Collins voted no on Senator Gary Peters's amendment to rescind unspent immigration-enforcement balances from the 2025 law and send them "to reduce the deficit," and it failed 46 to 53. The money stayed with immigration enforcement. In fiscal year 2026 the government ran a $2 trillion deficit and spent more than $1 trillion on interest, more than it spent on national defense, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
- Collins Said She Strongly Supports Extending the 2017 Tax Cuts in July 2025. Susan Collins said "I strongly support extending the tax relief for families and small businesses" on July 1, 2025, about the tax title of H.R. 1. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that more than 70 percent of the net tax cuts will go to the richest fifth in 2026, while the Congressional Budget Office estimates the lowest-income earners will lose an average $1,200 in overall household resources a year once the law's spending cuts are counted.
What the Tax and Budget Votes Susan Collins Cast Mean for Maine
- State budget. Maine's Department of Health and Human Services estimates the 2025 law will cost MaineCare an estimated $5.0 billion over ten years through reduced federal funding and added state costs.
- Food aid costs shifted to Maine. Starting in fiscal year 2028, Maine is projected to owe a 15 percent share of SNAP benefit costs, about $50 million, under the law's cost shift.
- Health insurance credits. After the enhanced premium tax credits expired, Maine's marketplace enrollment fell 12%, from 62,381 in 2025 to 54,800 in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About Susan Collins on Taxes and the deficit
What is Susan Collins's record on taxes and the deficit under Trump?
Susan Collins voted in June and July 2025 against a motion to keep the One Big Beautiful Bill Act from adding to the deficit, against restoring the expanded Child Tax Credit and against an amendment to extend the health insurance tax credits. She also said she strongly supports extending the 2017 tax cuts that the law made permanent. On June 5, 2026 she voted against returning unspent immigration-enforcement money from the 2025 law to reduce the deficit.
Does Susan Collins support extending the Trump tax cuts?
Yes. Susan Collins said on July 1, 2025, "I strongly support extending the tax relief for families and small businesses." The 2025 law, signed July 4, 2025, made the 2017 law's temporary individual income and estate tax provisions permanent.
How did Susan Collins vote on the expanded Child Tax Credit in 2025?
Susan Collins voted on July 1, 2025 against Senator Michael Bennet's motion to raise the Child Tax Credit to the expanded levels, and it failed 47 to 53. The law that passed requires a Social Security number for a parent and the child before a family can claim the credit.
Last updated: 2026-10-25