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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. A moderate, he chairs the powerful Senate Finance Committee, with jurisdiction over taxes, trade, Medicare, Social Security and the central issue of 2009, health care reform.
==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 1978.
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 1978.
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.
As chairman of Finance, Baucus controls the agenda for the two most visible issues of 2009, health care reform and cap-and-trade. His committee has jurisdiction over tax, trade, Medicare and Social Security issues.
As chairman of Finance, Baucus controls the agenda for the two most visible issues of 2009, health care reform and cap-and-trade.
==Moderate views==
==Moderate views==
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 Bush trillion-dollar tax cuts in 2001 (the "Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001".) He successfully added a prescription-drug benefit to Medicare (as requested by Bush) and obtained millions in aid for drought-plagued farmers and ranchers in his home state.
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 at first 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.