Max Baucus
Max Baucus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senior Senator, Montana | |
| In office January 1979–Present | |
| Preceded by | Paul G. Hatfield |
| Succeeded by | Incumbent (2009) |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Wanda Minge |
Max Sieben Baucus (born December 11, 1941) is the senior United States Senator from Montana and is a member of the Democratic Party.
Personal Life
Baucus was born in Helena, Montana, and graduated from Helena High School in 1959. He earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a law degree from Stanford University. He is married to Wanda Minge, and has one son.
He began law practice in Missoula, Montana, in 1971. He was Executive Director and Committee Coordinator for Montana's 1972 Constitutional Convention.
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 in 1978 and has served consecutively ever since.
United States Senate
Senator Baucus is the Ranking Democratic Member on the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, which he 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 conservative 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.
Controversy
The 2002, Montana elections got national national attention when Baucus' opponent, state senator Mike Taylor, accused Baucus of having implied that Taylor was [[gay] in a campaign ad. The ad alleged that Taylor had embezzled funds from the cosmetology school he once owned while showing footage from the early '80s of Taylor massaging another man's face while wearing a tight suit with an open shirt. Taylor dropped out of the race and Baucus won with 63% of the vote.
On July 3, 2004, Baucus suffered minor injuries when his motorcycle hit gravel as he swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle. Local police confirmed he was not drinking alcohol prior to the incident.
Baucus' wife, Wanda, made national headlines on April 21, 2004, after she was charged with assault stemming from an incident at a D.C.-area garden center. On June 2, she reached a deal with prosecutors under which she would avoid prosecution if she completed 40 hours of community service within six months. Federal prosecutors offered Ms. Baucus the same terms they generally offer most first-time violent offenders (excluding felony offenses).
In 2006, Baucus returned $18,892 in contributions from the indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Nephew Killed in Iraq
It was reported August 1, 2006 that Senator Baucus' nephew Marine Cpl. Phillip E. Baucus was killed in combat[1] 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.[2]
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).
External links
- Sen. Baucus's Senate homepage
- "Sentator's wife charged with assault" (CNN.com)
- "Senator's Wife Reaches Deal with Prosecutors (abc7dc.com)
- Voting record maintained by the Washington Post
 | ||
| ||