GOP's Snowe: Reward Sen. Brown For Bipartisanship

U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine is urging Massachusetts voters to support fellow Republican Sen. Scott Brown, saying he's one of a dwindling number of lawmakers willing to work across party lines.

Snowe, who recently announced she would not seek another term, said Monday that Brown is a critical vote in favor of issues important to women, pointing to his support for renewing the Violence Against Women Act.

Snowe downplayed Brown's support for an amendment which would have let employers or health insurers deny coverage for services they say violate their moral or religious beliefs, including birth control.

Snowe opposed the amendment, which failed.

Brown's likely Democratic rival, Elizabeth Warren, has faulted his support of the amendment, saying it threatened women's access to contraception, mammograms, and maternity care.