Maine’s congressional delegation was split Friday over a stopgap funding bill that would prevent a federal government shutdown on Oct. 1. Senate Democrats blocked that bill. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, blasted Democrats for opposing the Republican short-term funding bill and instead pushing an ill-fated proposal with “poison pills” that has no chance of passing. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, speaks on the Senate floor Friday, Sept. 19 in support of a continuing resolution that would avoid a government shutdown. The political battle over the funding bill brings into focus key differences between Republicans and Democrats ahead of next year’s midterm elections.