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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| Succeeded by | Incumbent (2009) |
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| Born | December 11, 1941 (age 65) Helena, Montana |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Wanda Minge |
| Religion | Congregationalist |
Max Sieben Baucus (born December 11, 1941) is the senior United States Senator from Montana and is a member of the Democratic Party.
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[edit] Personal life
Baucus was born Max Sieben Enke in Helena, Montana to Jean Sheriff and Canadian-born Stephen Enke, Ph.D., an economist and demographer.[1] Baucus graduated from Helena High School in 1959. He is an alumnus of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, He earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a law degree from Stanford University. He married Wanda Minge in 1983, and has one son, Zeno.
He began law practice in Missoula, Montana, in 1971. He was Executive Director and Committee Coordinator for Montana's 1972 Constitutional Convention.
[edit] Montana State Legislature
In 1973, Baucus was elected to the Montana State Legislature. He was a state representative from Missoula until his election to the United States House of Representatives in 1974. He was re-elected in 1976. 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 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] United States 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.
Baucus is a moderate member of the Democratic Party, frequently breaking with them on the issues of taxes, the environment, and gun control. Baucus voted for the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. He has usually voted against repealing the portions of that bill and more recent tax cut bills that benefit upper income taxpayers. Baucus voted in favor of the Brady Bill and the first ban on semi-automatic firearms, but has since switched positions on gun control, opposing most new gun control laws. 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 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. On other issues, Baucus is more in the mainstream of his party. He is very pro-choice and receives 100% ratings from NARAL Pro-Choice America and other reproductive rights advocacy groups. He opposes the United States embargo against Cuba and the restrictions on travel there. He was one of 26 senators to vote against the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005. Despite his mixed record on environmental issues, Baucus has opposed opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil drilling. Baucus also favored a bill that will require online pornography sites to have a .XXX domain, together with Mark Pryor (D-Ark.)
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.
[edit] Controversies
The 2002, Montana elections got national attention when Baucus' 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 '80s of Taylor massaging another man's face while wearing a tight suit with an open shirt.[2] Taylor dropped out of the race and Baucus won with 63% of the vote.
In 2006, Baucus returned $18,892 in contributions from groups connected with, but not from, lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
[edit] Iraq War
Senator 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 also voted with the majority of Democrats against the Kerry Amendment (firm deadline for withdrawal).
It was reported August 1, 2006 that Senator Baucus' nephew Marine Cpl. Phillip E. Baucus was killed in combat[3] 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[4].
On January 10, 2007, the day of the Bush presidential address on "The New Way Forward", his plan to increase troop levels in Iraq, Baucus spoke against the increases and called for a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops.[5]
[edit] 2008 reelection
Senator Baucus will seek re-election in 2008, in a state that has been undergoing political change since 2004 when they elected highly popular Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer and then Democratic Senator Jon Tester in 2006. [1]
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/senators/baucus.htm
- ^ Gransbery, Jim. "Taylor quits Senate race in Montana", Billings Gazette, 2002-10-10. Retrieved on January 5, 2007.
- ^ DefenseLink: "DoD Identifies Marine Casualty"
- ^ DefenseLink: "DoD Identifies Marine Casualty"
- ^ David Sirota (January 10, 2007). Today, I am proud Max Baucus is my U.S. Senator. Working for Change. Retrieved on January 10, 2007.
[edit] External links
- United States Senator Max Baucus official Senate site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Federal Election Commission - Max Baucus campaign finance reports and data
- New York Times - Max Baucus News collected news and commentary
- On the Issues - Max Baucus issue positions and quotes
- OpenSecrets.org - Max Baucus campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Max Baucus (MT) profile
- SourceWatch Congresspedia - Max Baucus profile
- Washington Post - Congress Votes Database: Max Baucus voting record
Articles
- Senator's wife charged with assault Joe Johns and Steve Turnham, CNN, April 21, 2004
- Senator's Wife Reaches Deal with Prosecutors ABC7DC
| Preceded by Richard Shoup |
United States Representative for the 1st Congressional District of Montana 1975–1979 |
Succeeded by Pat Williams |
| Preceded by Paul G. Hatfield |
United States Senator (Class 2) from Montana 1978- Served alongside: John Melcher, Conrad Burns, Jon Tester |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by William V. Roth, Jr. |
Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance 2001 |
Succeeded by Charles E. Grassley |
| Preceded by Charles E. Grassley |
Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance 2001–2003 |
Succeeded by Charles E. Grassley |
| Preceded by Charles E. Grassley |
Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance 2007– |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Montana's current delegation to the United States Congress |
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| Senators: Max Baucus (D), Jon Tester (D)
Representative(s): Denny Rehberg (R) All delegations: Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands |
Categories: 1941 births | Living people | American Congregationalists | Members of the Montana House of Representatives | Members of the United States House of Representatives from Montana | Montana lawyers | Montana politicians | People from Helena, Montana | Stanford University alumni | United States Senators from Montana
