Katie Layne Collins

Katharine Amalia Layne-Collins (born September 22, 1950) is an American businesswoman, politician, and attorney. A member of the New Liberal Party, she has served as the U.S. Senator for Montclair since 1989. She had previously served as the U.S. Representative for Montclair's 2nd congressional district for 3 years. The district included Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.

Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, Sequoia to Ed Layne, a wealthy businessman and State Legislator, and Maggie Sanders, Layne-Collins graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy. She then soon graduated from University of Michigan School of Law in 1975, earning a Juris Doctor and soon rising through the ranks of Attorney life. She now lives in Ann Arbor, Montclair.

Personal life
Born Katie Layne on September 22, 1950, in Reno, Nevada as the second child of Ed Layne and Maggie Layne Sanders. She was an exceptionally gifted young child attending elite academies and getting good grades. However, Layne was a challenged teen, facing abuse from her parents and moving from state to state and changing schools. Layne Collins recounts running away multiple times between the ages of 14 and 17.

On May 17, 1973, Layne married 25-year-old Jack Collins whom Layne met while in High School. Layne was 23-years-old at the time of the marriage. The couple have two children. After the marriage Layne decided to start going by the name of Katie Layne Collins, taking on the name of her husband.

United States House of Representatives
Collins says she had contemplated entering politics in the late 1970's but decided against it to grow her family and law firm. However after the sudden death of Representative Betsy Reed in 1985, Collins was convinced by her husband and another family friend to run in the special election to replace Reed. Collins won unopposed. She won a full term later that same year.

Layne Collins was a key figure in the 100th congress, leading the opposition to the 1988 budget which would've cut funds to social security. Layne Collins was also a key vote for both liberals and conservatives on certain topics but has admitted she sways liberal on many social topics.

Collins was a key vote in handing the Speakership to John Paul Martinson, a shock to many. After the speakership vote, Layne Collins said "I believe that Americans want a desperate change. A change in leadership. They don't want the same corrupt broken Washington that has done them wrong for years...In the next two years, I will deliver that change, starting with casting my vote for John Paul Martinson."

Layne Collins won a second full term in the House in 1988.

United States Senate
Layne Collins resigned from the House of Representatives after being appointed to the United States Senate by Governor Bob Jones after Harry Peters resigned upon his election as Vice President of the United States. She's been serving since 1989. She won election to a full term in 1990 defeating Former Representative John Major.

Layne Collins became the Senior United States Senator from Montclair after senior Senator Michael Cherry resigned from office in 1992.