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'''Max Baucus''' is the senior [[United States Senator]] from [[Montana]]. A Democrat, he has been a Senator since 1978, winning easy reelections ever since.  

'''Max Baucus''' is the senior [[United States Senator]] from [[Montana]]. A Democrat, he has been a Senator since 1978, winning easy reelections ever since.  

==Background==

==Background==

Baucus is a fifth generation Montanan, from a prominent ranching family. He took undergraduate and law degrees at Stanford in 1964 and 1967, hitch-hiked around the world, then held junior staff positions in Washington. Returning to Montana in 1971, he helped draft a new state constitution.  he was elected to the Montana State Legislator in 1973 and served until 1974, when he was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]]. Baucus was elected to the [[United States Senate]] in  

Baucus is a fifth generation Montanan, from a prominent ranching family. He took undergraduate and law degrees at Stanford in 1964 and 1967, hitch-hiked around the world, then held junior staff positions in Washington. Returning to Montana in 1971, he helped draft a new state constitution.  He was elected to the Montana State Legislator in 1973 and served until 1974, when he was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]]. Baucus was elected to the [[United States Senate]] in  

==U.S. Senate==

==U.S. Senate==

Senator Baucus is the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, which he last chaired from 2001 to 2003. Baucus is also a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the Senate Agriculture Committee, and the Joint Committee on Taxation.

Senator Baucus is the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, which he last chaired from 2001 to 2003. Baucus is also a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the Senate Agriculture Committee, and the Joint Committee on Taxation.

Max Baucus is one of the more moderate Democrats in the Senate. He voted for the Bush tax cuts in 2001 (the "Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001".)   

Max Baucus is one of the more moderate Democrats in the Senate. He voted for the Bush tax cuts in 2001 (the "Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001".)   

Baucus was in favor of gun control, voting for the Brady Bill and the first ban on semi-automatic firearms, He has since switched his position, opposing most new gun control laws. In 1999, he was the only Democrat to vote against an amendment by [[Frank Lautenberg]] (D-New Jersey) that sought to "regulate the sale of firearms at gun shows."  

Baucus was in favor of gun control, voting for the Brady Bill and the first ban on semi-automatic firearms. He has since switched his position, opposing most new gun control laws. In 1999, he was the only Democrat to vote against an amendment by [[Frank Lautenberg]] (D-New Jersey) that sought to "regulate the sale of firearms at gun shows."  

Baucus voted for the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which made it harder to declare personal bankruptcy. In 2006, he voted for a constitutional amendment prohibiting the physical desecration of the American flag.  

Baucus voted for the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which made it harder to declare personal bankruptcy. In 2006, he voted for a constitutional amendment prohibiting the physical desecration of the American flag.  

Baucus is a member of the bipartisan "gang of six" (three Democrats and three Republicans), tried, without success so far, to craft a bipartisan health care bill. <ref>http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/18/health.care.definitions/</ref>

Baucus is a member of the bipartisan "gang of six" (three Democrats and three Republicans), tried, without success so far, to craft a bipartisan health care bill. <ref>http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/18/health.care.definitions/</ref>

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, $319,348 up to 2006.

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, $319,348 up to 2006.

==Controversies==

==Controversies==