Max Baucus
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Max Baucus
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office December 15, 1978 Serving with Jon Tester |
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| Preceded by | Paul G. Hatfield |
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| In office January 3, 1975 – December 14, 1978 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Shoup |
| Succeeded by | John Patrick Williams |
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Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Chuck Grassley |
| In office June 6, 2001 – January 3, 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Chuck Grassley |
| Succeeded by | Chuck Grassley |
| In office January 3 – January 20, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | William V. Roth, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Chuck Grassley |
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Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
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| In office January 1993 – January 3, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Daniel Patrick Moynihan |
| Succeeded by | John Chafee |
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| Born | December 11, 1941 Helena, Montana |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Wanda Minge |
| Children | Zeno Baucus |
| Residence | Helena, Montana |
| Alma mater | Stanford Law School (J.D.) Stanford University (B.A.) |
| Occupation | attorney |
| Religion | United Church of Christ |
| Website | Max Baucus, Senator From Montana |
Max Sieben Baucus (born December 11, 1941) is the senior United States Senator from Montana. He is the current chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Finance and a central figure for current (2009) policy debates over health care reform in the United States, which includes his opposition to HR 676 or any similar solution.
Having been senator from Montana since 1978, Baucus is the seventh longest-serving current senator. As a member of the Democratic Party, Baucus has a mixed voting record on civil liberties, health care, environmental issues, tax policy, and trade issues.
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[edit] Early life, education, and early career
Baucus was born in Helena, Montana, and graduated from Helena High School in 1959. He attended Carleton College in Minnesota for a year before transferring to Stanford University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics 1964, and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon frat. After graduating, he attended Stanford University's law school, receiving his degree in 1967.
After finishing law school, Baucus spent three years as a lawyer at the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. He moved back to Montana in 1971 to serve as the executive director of the state's Constitutional Convention, also opening a law office in Missoula, Montana.[1]
In November 1973, Baucus was elected to the Montana House of Representatives as a state representative from Missoula. In November 1974 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, and was re-elected in 1976.
[edit] United States Senate
[edit] Elections
Baucus was elected to the U.S. Senate on November 7, 1978 for the term beginning January 3, 1979, but was subsequently appointed to the seat by Montana's Democratic Governor Thomas Lee Judge on December 15, 1978 to fill the brief vacancy created by Senator Paul G. Hatfield's resignation. He has served consecutively ever since.
[edit] 2002 election
The 2002 Montana elections got national attention when Baucus's opponent, state senator Mike Taylor, accused Baucus of having implied that Taylor was gay in a campaign ad. However, the ad was paid for by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, not by the Baucus campaign. The ad, which alleged that Taylor had embezzled funds from the cosmetology school he once owned, showed footage from the early 1980s of Taylor massaging another man's face while wearing a tight suit with an open shirt. Taylor dropped out of the race and Baucus won with 63 percent of the vote.[2]
[edit] 2008 re-election campaign
Baucus sought re-election in 2008 in Montana, a state that has been undergoing political change since 2004 when it elected Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer, and then Democratic Senator Jon Tester in 2006 by a slim margin. Montana was the only state in the U.S. to switch a chamber of its legislature to Republican control in 2006. The legislative chamber had a one-seat Democratic majority that switched to a one-seat Republican majority.
Baucus raised a record amount of money for his 2008 re-election bid, 91 percent of which has come from individuals living outside of Montana.[3] As a result of his significant fund raising advantage, in the week that he announced his intentions to run for re-election, he opened eight state offices – one more than he has official offices in the state. He also announced that he had hired 35 full-time campaign staff members.
He successfully won re-election in 2008.
[edit] Political positions and actions
Baucus is generally viewed as a moderate[4] Democratic member of the Senate, occasionally breaking with his party on the issues of taxes, the environment, and gun control. The website That's My Congress gives him a 43% rating on progressive issues it tracks.[5] In addition, NARAL Pro-Choice America's political action committee endorsed Baucus during his 2008 election campaign.[6]
[edit] Civil liberties
In 2006, he voted for a constitutional amendment prohibiting the physical desecration of the American flag. Baucus also favored a bill that will require online pornography sites to have a .XXX domain, together with Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) He supports the death penalty. The ACLU rated Baucus at 60% in December 2002, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record.
[edit] Gay rights
In December, 2006 the Human Rights Campaign rated Baucus at 67%, indicating a mixed record on gay rights. Despite opposing gay marriage, he voted against a proposed constitutional ban on it and has supported measures to curb job discrimination and hate crimes based on sexual orientation.
[edit] Gun rights
In 1999, he was the only Democrat to vote against an amendment by Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) that sought to "regulate the sale of firearms at gunshows."
Baucus can be frequently found hunting and fishing on public lands around Montana [1].
[edit] Voting rights
On February 26, 2009 Baucus and Robert Byrd were sole Democrats to vote against District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2009, which provides a voting seat in the United States House of Representatives for the District of Columbia and adding a seat for Utah. The bill passed 61-37 with one Senator not voting[7].
[edit] Economic issues
Baucus has a 74% pro-business voting record as rated by the United States Chamber of Commerce. He twice voted to make filing bankruptcy more difficult for debtors,[8] once in July, 2001 to restrict rules on personal bankruptcy, and a second time in March 2005 to include means-testing & restrictions for bankruptcy filers.
He has frequently visited places of employment within the state and has personally participated in activities that he calls "Work Days." He has also hosted economic development conferences.
[edit] Trade
In March 2005, Baucus voted against on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore. On 4 January 2007, he wrote an editorial in the Wall Street Journal calling on Democrats to renew Bush's fast-track authority for international trade deals.[9] In response, the Montana State Senate passed a 44-6 resolution "that the U.S. Congress be urged to create a replacement for the outdated fast track system" [10]
[edit] Environmental issues
His environmental record is mixed. Baucus supports Democratic leadership in voting against oil and gas subsidies and ANWR drilling, as well as by voting in favor national standards to reduce oil consumption and spur the use of hydrogen automobiles. However, he has voted against the CAFE fuel economy standards and on increasing federal funds for solar and wind power.
On the other hand, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), which tracks support for the environment, gives Baucus a 100% rating on its issues, but only for the second session of the 110th congress.[11] However, in December 2003, the LCV rated him at only 42%.[12]
[edit] Foreign affairs
[edit] Cuba
He opposes the United States embargo against Cuba and the restrictions on travel there.
[edit] Iraq War
Baucus had voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002, but has joined the Democrats in the Senate in demanding the phased withdrawal of the Levin Amendment (no firm deadline). He voted with a majority of Democrats against the Kerry Amendment [2] which stipulated a firm deadline for withdrawal of American combat personnel.
It was reported on August 1 2006[13][14] that Baucus's nephew Marine Cpl. Phillip E. Baucus (September 24, 1977–July 29, 2006) was killed in combat in Al Anbar province, Iraq, on July 29. Phillip Baucus, a 28-year-old resident of Wolf Creek, Montana, had been a member of the 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force[15]. The funeral was the site of protests by members of the Westboro Baptist Church.[16]
On January 10, 2007, the day of Bush's presidential address on his plan to increase troop levels in Iraq, Baucus spoke against the increases and called for a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops.[17]
[edit] Support for Israel
Baucus is a strong supporter of Israel. In the Senate, he is one of the largest career recipients of pro-Israel Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions, receiving $319,348 as of 2006.[citation needed]
[edit] Health care reform
[edit] Senate finance committee
Recently Baucus, as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, caused controversy when calling the first Senate meeting of interested parties before the committee to discuss health care reform, which included representatives from pharmaceutical groups, insurance companies, and HMOs and hospital management companies, but did not include representatives from groups calling for single-payer health care which is the reform idea that has the most support amongst medical doctors[18], nurses, and the population at large.[19] [20] [21] Advocate groups attended the hearing to protest their exclusion as well as statements by Baucus that "single payer was not an option on the table." Baucus later had eight protesters (among them physicians and nurses), removed by police who arrested them for disrupting the hearing. Many of the single-payer advocates claimed it was a "pay to play" event.[21][22] At the next meeting on health care reform of the Senate Finance Committee, Baucus had five more doctors and nurses removed and arrested.[23][24][25]
[edit] Opposition to single payer health care
Baucus has used the term "uniquely American solution" to describe the end point of current health reform and has said that he believes America is not ready yet for any form of single payer health care. This is the same term the insurance trade association, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), is using. AHIP has launched the Campaign for an American Solution, which argues for the use of private health insurance instead of a government backed program.[26] It has been pointed out that America already has a "uniquely American solution" that is a single payer health care system, it is Medicare.[27]
[edit] Conflict of interest perceptions
Some have pointed out that Baucus has been one of the biggest Senate beneficiaries of campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical and health insurance industries. From 2003 to 2008, Baucus received about $3 million from the health sector, including $852,813 from pharmaceutical companies, $851,141 from health professionals, $784,185 from the insurance industry and $465,750 from HMOs/health services, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.[28] The only senators who received more campaign contributions from the health sector than he did in that period were three major Presidential contenders during the same period, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain.[29] Baucus tops the list of recipients from business PACs. A 2006 study by Public Citizen found that between 1999 and 2005 Baucus, along with former Senate majority leader Bill Frist, took in the most special-interest money of any senator.[30]
Only three senators have more former staffers working as lobbyists on K Street, at least two dozen in Baucus's case.[31] Several of Baucus' ex-staffers with whom he is still close, among them, former chief of staff David Castagnetti, are now working for the pharmaceutical and health insurance industries.[32] Castagnetti co-founded the lobbying firm of Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, which represents "America’s Health Insurance Plans Inc.," the national trade group of health insurance companies, the Medicare Cost Contractors Alliance, as well as Amgen, AstraZeneca PLC and Merck & Co. Another former chief of staff, Jeff Forbes, went on to open his own lobbying shop and to represent the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and the Advanced Medical Technology Association, among other groups.
Commentator Ed Schultz stated on his MSNBC TV show that Baucus has received "more money from pharmaceutical companies and insurance industry folks than any other Democrat in the Congress. Baucus got $183,000 from health insurance companies and $229,900 from drug companies", and contrasting the presence of representatives from these groups with the absence of representatives from Single payer advocates he added wryly "May I remind you, they were at the table."[21]
A statistical analysis of the impact of political contributions on individual Senator's support for the public insurance option conducted by Nate Silver, however, has suggested that Baucus was an unlikely supporter of the public option in the first place. Based on his political ideology and the per capita health care spending in Montana, Silver's model projects that there would be only a 30.6% probability of Baucus supporting a public insurance option even if he had received no relevant campaign contributions. Figuring in those contributions, Baucus' probability of supporting a public insurance option is modeled to be just 0.6%.[33]
[edit] Tax policy
Baucus voted for the Bush tax cuts in 2001. He has usually voted against repealing portions of that bill and against repealing more recent tax cut bills that benefit upper income taxpayers. In 2008, he voted in favor of permanently repealing the estate tax[34]
[edit] Tort reform
He was one of 26 senators to vote against the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005.
[edit] Recent travel
Baucus visited the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam from 13 to 20 December 2008 on a mission to reassure the world about the US economy. The trip took him to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City. Baucus said he would be looking for opportunities to expand US commerce with both countries in meetings with government officials and civil society leaders.[35]
"America needs to rebuild its economy and engage the world smartly on trade, in a way that creates good-paying jobs here at home," said Baucus, who was slated to give speeches at Zayed University in Dubai and at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.
Baucus said the United States must strive to understand "boom economies" like the UAE, that relations with Vietnam must remain "strong," and that he hoped to ensure that Asian markets "are as open as they should be to American products like beef," a key export of his home state of Montana.
[edit] Committee assignments
[edit] Past
Baucus was the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance from June 2001 to January 2003.
[edit] Current
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
- Committee on Finance (Chairman)
- As Chairman of the full committee, Sen. Baucus may serve as an ex officio member of all subcommittees of which he is not already a full member.
- Subcommittee on Taxation, IRS Oversight, and Long-term Growth
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Joint Committee on Taxation (Chairman)
[edit] Electoral history
[edit] 1974 United States House of Representatives
- Max Baucus (D) 54.7%
- Dick Shoup (R) 45.3%
[edit] 1976 United States House of Representatives
- Max Baucus (D) (inc.) 66.4%
- Bill Diehl (R) 33.6%
[edit] 1978 United States Senate
- Max Baucus (D) 55.6%
- Larry Williams (R) 44.4%
[edit] 1984 United States Senate
- Max Baucus (D) (inc.) 56.9%
- Chuck Cozzens (R) 40.7%
[edit] 1990 United States Senate
- Max Baucus (D) (inc.) 69.8%
- Allen C. Kolstad (R) 30.2%
[edit] 1996 United States Senate
- Max Baucus (D) (inc.) 49.5%
- Dennis Rehberg (R) 44.7%
- Becky Shaw (Reform) 4.7%
- Stephen Heaton (Natural Law) 1%
[edit] 2002 United States Senate
- Max Baucus (D) (inc.) 63%
- Mike Taylor (R) 32%
- Bob Kelleher (Green) 3%
[edit] 2008 United States Senate
- Max Baucus (D) (inc.) 73%
- Bob Kelleher (R) 27%
[edit] Personal
In April 2009, The Associated Press reported the Baucus and his his wife Wanda are divorcing after 25 years of marriage.
Baucus has one son, Zeno.
Baucus has completed a 50-mile ultramarathon and has crewed for female winner and fellow Montana native Nikki Kimball at the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run, which he hopes to run in 2009.[36]
[edit] References
- ^ Ezra Klein (November 6, 2008). "The Sleeper of the Senate". American Prospect. http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_sleeper_of_the_senate.
- ^ Gransbery, Jim (2002-10-10). "Taylor quits Senate race in Montana". Billings Gazette. http://www.billingsgazette.com/newdex.php?display=rednews/2002/10/10/build/local/50-taylor-bails.inc. Retrieved on 2007-01-05.
- ^ Missoulian: Baucus's campaign fills coffers with out-of-state funds
- ^ "Biography of Senator Max Baucus". Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. http://www.dscc.org/content?content_item_KEY=1448. Retrieved on 2009-05-11.
- ^ http://thatsmycongress.com/senate/ Progressive Rankings and Contact Information for Members of the Senate in the 111th Congress
- ^ "Winning Pro-Choice Candidates". NARAL Pro-Choice America. http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/pro-choice-winners.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-12.
- ^ http://senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=1&vote=00073
- ^ "Max Baucus on the issues". OnTheIssues.org. http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Max_Baucus.htm. Retrieved on 5 June 2009.
- ^ Max Baucus (4 January 2007). "A Democratic Trade Agenda". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116787470676166607.html?mod=todays_us_opinion. Retrieved on 6 June 2009.
- ^ Mark Drajem (27 February 2007). "Baucus Told by Montana Legislature to Oppose New Trade Measure". Bloomberg.com. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aAu.irc2WjF0. Retrieved on 6 June 2009.
- ^ League of Conservation Voters 2008 Scorecard
- ^ "Max Baucus on the issues". OnTheIssues.org. http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Max_Baucus.htm. Retrieved on 5 June 2009.
- ^ Sun Herald news report
- ^ Montana senator’s nephew dies in Iraq
- ^ DefenseLink: "DoD Identifies Marine Casualty"
- ^ Senator's Nephew Mourned by Hundreds
- ^ David Sirota (January 10, 2007). "Today, I am proud Max Baucus is my U.S. Senator". Working for Change. http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/index.cfm?mode=entry&entry=0D157470-E0C3-F090-A6CADAAEE8EEBF77. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
- ^ [http://www.nhms.org/topics/12-14-2007_a.pdf New Hampshire Medical Society:Doctors opinion of Single payer/Medicare for All
- ^ [Associated press/Yahoo Poll:Healthcare findings
- ^ [http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/PollMemo.pdf Findings from a Recent Survey Show Widespread Support for a Public Health Care Option]
- ^ a b c http://www.edschultzshow.com/videoblog/details.asp?BID=111 MSNBC The Ed Show: Is Single payer on or off the table?
- ^ "Doctors Protest Exclusion of Single-Payer at Senate Finance Committee". The Real News Network. 2009-05-05. http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=3665Single-payer. Retrieved on 2009-05-11.
- ^ Health care reform advocates get arrested while protesting, The Billings Gazette
- ^ Police eject protesters from Senate health hearing, The Associated Press
- ^ Make it the Baucus 13, Single Payer Action
- ^ Baucus Watch: A key senator on health reform holds a listening session, Columbia Journalism Review
- ^ Baucus's Raucous Caucus: Doctors, Nurses and Activists Arrested Again for Protesting Exclusion of Single-Payer Advocates at Senate Hearing on Health Care, Democracy Now
- ^ http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?type=C&cid=N00004643&newMem=N&recs=20&cycle=2008
- ^ Carol Eisenberg (21 May 2009). "Max Baucus holds cards on healthcare reform". Muckety. http://news.muckety.com/2009/05/21/max-baucus-holds-the-cards-on-healthcare-reform-and-most-everything-else/15961. Retrieved on 2009-06-5.
- ^ Ari Berman (6 March 2007). "K Street's Favorite Democrat". The Nation. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070319/berman. Retrieved on 6 June 2009.
- ^ Ari Berman (6 March 2007). "K Street's Favorite Democrat". The Nation. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070319/berman. Retrieved on 6 June 2009.
- ^ Carol Eisenberg (21 May 2009). "Max Baucus holds cards on healthcare reform". Muckety. http://news.muckety.com/2009/05/21/max-baucus-holds-the-cards-on-healthcare-reform-and-most-everything-else/15961. Retrieved on 2009-06-5.
- ^ Nate Silver (22 June 2009). "Special Interest Money Means Longer Odds for Public Option". FiveThirtyEight. http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/06/special-interest-money-means-longer.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-24.
- ^ "Max Baucus on the issues". OnTheIssues.org. http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Max_Baucus.htm. Retrieved on 5 June 2009.
- ^ Nghị sĩ Max Baucus đi Việt Nam và Các Tiểu vương quốc Ả Rập Thống nhất (Vietnamese)
- ^ Bozeman Montana Local News
[edit] External links
- United States Senator Max Baucus, U.S. Senate site
- 2008 Campaign Website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
- Collected news and commentary from The New York Times
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
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