For the 6th Consecutive Year, Senator Collins Ranked Most Bipartisan U.S. Senator
Washington, D.C. - A study released today by the Lugar Center and The McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University ranks U.S. Senator Susan Collins as the most bipartisan Senator for the sixth consecutive year. Senator Collins received the highest bipartisan score in the 26-year history of the index.
“In today’s highly charged partisan atmosphere, reaching across the aisle is essential for getting things done and solving some of our nation’s most pressing issues. I have long held the belief that Congress produces the best legislation when it listens to a variety of viewpoints and receives input from both Republicans and Democrats,” said Senator Collins. “I am delighted that my work to bring people of both parties together to develop bipartisan solutions is reflected in this Bipartisan Index, and I applaud the Lugar Center’s efforts to encourage cooperation and civility in Congress.”
"Senator Susan Collins continues to be the gold standard for bipartisanship in the U.S. Congress. Her score on the Bipartisan Index for the recently-completed 115th Congress is the highest we have ever recorded in the 26-year history of the Index. Her score of 3.166 surpasses the previous record of 2.718 set by Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon in the 110th Congress,” said former Senator Richard Lugar. “Senator Collins can only score at these historic highs by prioritizing good ideas over partisan talking points and by being open to working with all members of Congress for the good of our country and her state."
Although most grading systems of Members of Congress are based on partisan, parochial, or special-interest standards, the Bipartisan Index uses an objective formula to give each Member an overall score based on two major criteria:
- The frequency with which a member sponsors bills co-sponsored by at least one member of the opposing party
- The frequency with which a member co-sponsors bills introduced by members of the opposite party
Senator Collins has long been recognized for her efforts to reach across the aisle and find consensus. In 2016, she received the inaugural Jacob Javits Prize for Bipartisan Leadership for her exemplary efforts to facilitate bipartisanship throughout her Senate service.
Overview of Bipartisan Index Methodology:
The Lugar Center and Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy’s Bipartisan Index is a non-partisan ranking of how often each Member of Congress works across party lines based on sponsorships and co-sponsorships of legislation.
Sponsorships and co-sponsorships are positions Senators carefully consider and often reflect their long-term priorities. The Index chose to measure this activity in order to focus the index on bipartisanship and cooperation, rather than where members sit on the ideological spectrum.
For a full description of the methodology behind the Bipartisan Index, please visit the Lugar Center’s website.
