| Throughout his career, Max has done things that could be perceived as liberal, conservative, independent, libertarian, or even constitutionalist. But overall, the overarching theme is that Max Baucus takes his marching orders from all of Montana, folks in places like Shelby, Hardin, Libby, Hamilton - as well as Billings, Great Falls, Butte, Missoula, Bozeman, Helena, and Kalispell.
Consider for a moment some of the things Max has done.
To name a few, Max Baucus:
-Helped write the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP
-Has a 100 percent lifetime pro-choice voting record.
-Passed an outright ban on new oil and gas drilling on Montana's Rocky Mountain Front
-Helped author new welfare reforms that provide child care services so folks can get back to work.
-Authored the Clean Air and Water Act amendments and the Superfund program
-Secured billions in federal funds for the state's highways program, which accounts for more than 18,000 good-paying Davis Bacon jobs.
-Stopped President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security.
-Championed help for the people of Libby who were exposed to asbestos fibers
-Helped write agriculture policies that keep family farmers, ranchers on the land
-Fought the Bush Administration's sale of our public lands for hunting, fishing
Probably the most insidious thing I read in Ari Berman's recent Nation editorial about Max Baucus was the notion that he's somehow beholden to special interest. That's simply not true. He's beholden to the people who sign his paycheck every month: Montanans.
Here's a raw MP3 excerpt of the interview between Max and Berman. In his own words, Max refutes the notion that contributions influence policy. He also addresses the issue of former staff becoming lobbyists. Berman, of course, didn't use Max's comments, instead choosing to draw his own conclusion based on nothing more than conjecture.
Nor did Berman publish the fact that Max has one of the strictest ethics polices in the Senate.
Max voluntarily instituted an office policy that includes:
-An outright ban on all gifts from lobbyists.
-No lunches, dinners or meals of any kind
-No lobbyists sponsored trips
-If you become a lobbyist after working for Max you won't be re-hired
Does Max have one of the most aggressive fundraising machines in the country? Yes, absolutely. He's going to build a war chest to defend against the third-party out of state attackers mounting up as we speak. Do those contributions influence how he does business as a U.S. Senator? Absolutely not. That's just not how Max is wired.
Max is working within the confines of a broken system. He's supported every reasonable piece of campaign finance reform legislation put in from him. And he thinks there's too much money in politics. But he cannot unilaterally disarm. Raising money is a reality in modern day politics.
And Berman doesn't say anything about the support Max Baucus has given the Democratic Party as the state highest-ranking elected. Think Jon Tester =U.S. Senator
Max Baucus
-Raised nearly $2 million for Jon Tester during the 06 cycle
-Got the DSCC to go up against Burns early
-Raised $50k for MDLCC, the legislative effort
-Pounds on doors, cuts radio ads, and otherwise helps local candidates every cycle
On Trade
Now he's taking lumps over the debate to renew so-called fast-track trade negotiating authority. Max has a long history on fair trade that stems from the need to open foreign markets to Montana products. He's also proven his ability to take trade agreements on a case-by-case basis, as evidenced by his vote against CAFTA.
But don't forget, by way of example, that 2 out of every 3 bushels of Montana wheat are grown to be exported. The U.S. agriculture market is so saturated that we have to look for new markets overseas. That's what Montana farmers and ranchers want Max to do.
12 million American jobs depend on trade.
Max's recent statements on fast track shouldn't be glossed over either. He berated the U.S. Trade Representative during a recent Finance Committee hearing, noting any agreement has to beef up environment and labor standards and must protect Congress' role in policy making.
Fast-Track Negotiating Authority Could Have Rough Run in Senate
By Victoria McGrane, CQ Staff
The perception has been that the Bush administration faces its toughest battle over renewing the president's expedited "trade promotion authority" in the House.
But on Thursday, Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., showed that convincing the Senate won't be easy either.
Baucus opened a hearing with U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab by saying he supports renewing what is known as fast track for trade deals - with some changes.
Then he subjected Schwab to a series of sharp questions and criticisms, highlighting congressional unhappiness with the administration's past policy and its unwillingness to heed lawmaker concerns.
"There's a sense, I think, on the Hill that those so-called consultations are used by the administration to learn `what's the least amount we can do to get by' . . . to squeeze out a one-vote win on a trade agreement. It's not what it could and should be," said Baucus, historically a free-trade backer.
Baucus proved more blunt than the House Ways and Means Democrats who questioned Schwab on Feb. 14.
He told Schwab that lawmakers want the process modified "so that it requires more direct participation by Congress, not just consultation."
Max has also championed Trade Adjustment Assistance to help workers hurt by trade agreements. This year, he's teaming up with Sen. Norm Coleman to expand TAA for service workers, among other things.
Max isn't going to haphazardly rush into the fast track debate. That's not his style. He's going to get the facts and proceed in a way that's right for Montana and the country.
Finally, Berman calls Max a "schizophrenic figure" because of his ability to work with both Republicans and Democrats. That might make for a convenient zinger in a left-leaning publication, but Max's ability to work together to get things done isn't about politics. It's about producing results for Montana and the country. He learned that value from his friend and mentor, Mike Mansfield.
Consider what Max said in his recent speech to the Montana Legislature:
"When I think about what it means to work together, I look no further than Mike Mansfield. Our Mike. My friend and mentor. He was the man who served with presidents and foreign dignitaries. He led the country as the longest serving Senate Majority Leader -- during some tumultuous times, I might add.
But Mike never forgot his roots or the people he represented. He said to me once, "Max we represent all of Montana - Democrats and Republicans. We represent everybody."
He made a point of telling me that. And it stuck with me.
I'm reminded of that conversation by an old northwest Montana newspaper story.
They characterized Mike during his first year in the Senate this way:
"His philosophy is that he is a Democrat, yes, but first he is a U.S. Senator. He is sometimes liberal, sometimes conservative.
But uppermost in his mind is this thought: What is best for the people? Mike Mansfield is an individualist. But he will work with anyone and everyone when he feels the net result will produce something beneficial to the nation and Montana."
You may not always agree with Max. But to say he does anything but represent Montanans is flat-out untrue and unfair. Max works very hard in the job he loves.
Honestly, I've never seen someone with a stronger work ethic than the senior U.S. Senator from Montana. And he's the same in his personal life. Remember, this is the guy who ran 42 miles after hitting his head on a rock at mile 8 during a 50-mile marathon, before seeking medical attention.
Max goes after a hard day's work like most Montanans do - with everything he's got and then some. That shows time and again through his work product.
There will always be critics and haters on both sides of the aisle. But, at the end of the day, Max is guided by what his employers want and what he thinks is best for Montana and the country. |
