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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.

==Political views==

==Political views==

Max Baucus is one of the more moderate Democrats in the Senate. He voted for the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. Baucus used to be in favor of gun control. He voted for the Brady Bill and the first ban on semi-automatic firearms, but 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 gunshows." 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. Although Baucus's record on the environment is more [[conservative]] than other Democratic members of the Senate, he has voted against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in [[Alaska]]. He is also a strong supporter of [[abortion]], receiving a 100% rating from [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]]. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Baucus has been a major player in [[health care]] reform. He has expressed concerns over a single payer, government-run health care, which has resulted in criticisms from the left. <ref>http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/08/14/obama-and-montanas-baucus-who-needs-whom/</ref> Baucus is a meber of the "gang of six" in the Senate, which is trying to craft a bipartisan health care bill. <ref>http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/18/health.care.definitions/</ref>

Max Baucus is one of the more moderate Democrats in the Senate. He voted for the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. Baucus used to be in favor of gun control. He voted for the Brady Bill and the first ban on semi-automatic firearms, but 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 gunshows." 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. Although Baucus's record on the environment is more [[conservative]] than other Democratic members of the Senate, he has voted against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in [[Alaska]]. He is also a strong supporter of [[abortion]], receiving a 100% rating from [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]]. As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Baucus has been a major player in [[health care]] reform. He has expressed concerns over a single payer, government-run health care system, which has resulted in criticisms from the left. <ref>http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/08/14/obama-and-montanas-baucus-who-needs-whom/</ref> Baucus is a meber of the "gang of six" in the Senate, which is trying 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.