Max Baucus

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Maxwell Sieben Baucus (Template:Né Enke; born December 11, 1941) is an American politician who served as a United States senator from Montana from 1978 to 2014. A member of the Democratic Party, he was a U.S. senator for over 35 years, making him the longest-serving U.S. senator in Montana history. President Barack Obama later appointed Baucus to replace Gary Locke as the 11th U.S. Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, a position he held from 2014 until 2017.<ref name=sixth>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Baucus played an influential role in the debate over health care reform in the United States.<ref name="cjr.org">Trudy Lieberman (November 4, 2008 ). Baucus Watch: A key senator on health reform holds a listening session, Columbia Journalism Review</ref> He was also chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, and was chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Before his election to the Senate, Baucus was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1978, representing Montana's 1st congressional district. He previously served in the Montana House of Representatives from 1973 to 1974. His career included charges of conflicts of interest due to his ties to the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries, and his nomination of his girlfriend to be a US Attorney.

Early life and educationEdit

Maxwell Sieben Enke was born on December 11, 1941, in Helena, Montana, to historian and rancher Jean Sheriff (1917–2011) and Stephen Enke (1916–1974), a demographer and economist.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His father, born in British Columbia, Canada, was of German and Scottish descent, and his mother had English and German ancestry. Baucus lived in Los Angeles, California, until he was two, when his mother left his father and returned to Helena.<ref>"In re on Behalf of Enke," Supreme Court of Montana, July 20, 1955.</ref><ref>Jennifer McKee (September 29, 2008). "Baucus raised for ranch life, but took different road," The Independent Record.</ref>

His mother later married John J. Baucus, and she and her son, Max, took his surname.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Baucus graduated from Helena High School in 1959.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

After attending local public schools in his hometown of Helena, he attended Carleton College in Minnesota for a year. He then transferred to Stanford University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1964,<ref name=":0" /> and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. After graduating, he attended Stanford Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1967.<ref name=baucus>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early careerEdit

File:Max Baucus 1977 Congressional photo.jpg

Baucus during his time in the House of Representatives

After finishing law school, Baucus spent two years working as a staff attorney for the Civil Aeronautics Board and then two years as a lawyer at the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C.<ref name=":0" /> He moved back to his native Montana in 1971 to serve as the executive director of the state's Constitutional Convention, opening a law office in Missoula, Montana.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In November 1972, Baucus was elected to the Montana House of Representatives as a state representative from Missoula.<ref name=":0" /> In November 1974 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, and he was re-elected in 1976.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

U.S. SenateEdit

File:Max S Baucus.jpg

Baucus during his tenure in the U.S. Senate

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's Democratic Governor Thomas Lee Judge on December 15, 1978, to fill the brief vacancy created by Senator Paul G. Hatfield's resignation. On April 23, 2013, a Democratic official confirmed that Baucus would not seek a seventh term.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Committee assignmentsEdit

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
Committee on Finance (Chairman)
- As Chairman of the full committee, Baucus may serve as an ex officio member of all subcommittees of which he is not already a full member.
- Subcommittee on Taxation, IRS Oversight, and Long-term Growth
- Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth
Committee on Environment and Public Works
Joint Committee on Taxation (Chairman)
Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction

Political positionsEdit

File:MAXWH.jpg

Senator Chuck Grassley (left) and Representative E. Clay Shaw (right) with Baucus at the White House

As a Democratic member of the Senate, Baucus was conservative,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and frequently broke with his party on the issues of taxes, the environment, health care, and gun control. The web site That's My Congress gives him a 23 percent rating on progressive issues it tracks.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> NARAL Pro-Choice America's political action committee endorsed Baucus during his 2008 election campaign.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Civil rightsEdit

The American Civil Liberties Union rated Baucus at 60 percent in December 2002, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record.<ref name="oti">Template:Cite journal</ref>

LGBT rightsEdit

In 2006, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) gave Baucus a 67% overall rating indicating having a mixed record on voting for gay rights.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1996 Baucus voted in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which prohibited "marriage between members of the same sex in federal law, and provide that no state is required to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states" and defined marriage as being between a single man and a single woman.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, in 2004 he voted against the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and in June 2012, he definitively spoke out in support for same-sex marriage.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He has supported measures to curb job discrimination and hate crimes based on sexual orientation. He voted in favor of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Tobacco tax extensionEdit

In 2012, Baucus added to a transportation bill in Congress that extended the regulations covering cigarette manufacturers to "roll your own cigarette" stores that operate mass cigarette rolling machines.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Voting rights for Washington, D.C.Edit

Baucus voted against giving voting representation to the District of Columbia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Economic issuesEdit

File:Baucus Geithner 4.jpg

Baucus (foreground) meets with Secretary of Treasury nominee Timothy Geithner (left) in 2008

Baucus has a 74% pro-business voting record as rated by the United States Chamber of Commerce. He twice voted to make filing bankruptcy more difficult for debtors,<ref name="Max Baucus on the issues">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> once in July 2001 to restrict rules on personal bankruptcy, and a second time in March 2005 to include means-testing and restrictions for bankruptcy filers. He has frequently visited places of employment within the state and has personally participated in activities that he calls "Work Days".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Baucus voted for the Bush tax cuts in 2001. He has usually voted against repealing portions of that bill and against repealing more recent tax cut bills that benefit upper income taxpayers. In 2008, he voted in favor of permanently repealing the estate tax.<ref name="Max Baucus on the issues"/>

In March 2005, Baucus voted against repealing tax subsidies benefiting companies that outsource U.S. jobs offshore. On January 4, 2007, he wrote an editorial in the Wall Street Journal calling on Democrats to renew President George W. Bush's fast-track authority for international trade deals.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In response, the Montana State Senate passed a resolution, 44-6, "that the U.S. Congress be urged to create a replacement for the outdated fast track system".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On October 27, 2009, he introduced the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act of 2009 to Congress together with Representative Charles Rangel.

On August 9, 2011, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid appointed Baucus to the United States Congress Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Environmental issuesEdit

Baucus's environmental record in Congress was mixed. He supported Democratic leadership in voting against oil and gas subsidies and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling, as well as by voting in favor of national standards to reduce oil consumption and spur the use of hydrogen-powered cars. But he voted against the corporate average fuel economy standards (CAFE) and on increasing federal funds for solar and wind power. He was a leader in the massive Montana Legacy Project conservation project. The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) gave Baucus a 79% rating for 2012; Baucus's lifetime LCV rating is 68%. Template:Citation needed

Foreign affairsEdit

CubaEdit

As a senator, Baucus opposed the United States embargo against Cuba and travel restrictions.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Iraq WarEdit

Baucus voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. He voted with a majority of Democrats against Senator John Kerry's amendment stipulating a firm deadline for withdrawal of American combat personnel from Iraq.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On July 29, 2006,<ref>Sun Herald news report Template:Dead link</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Baucus's nephew Marine Cpl. Phillip E. Baucus was killed in combat in Al Anbar Governorate. Phillip, 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.<ref>DefenseLink: "DoD Identifies Marine Casualty"</ref>

On January 10, 2007, the day of President Bush's address on his plan to increase troop levels in Iraq, Baucus spoke against the increases and called for a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

IsraelEdit

Baucus was one of the Senate's largest career recipients of pro-Israel Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions, receiving $550,589 since 1989.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

JapanEdit

Baucus went on a trade mission in Japan, inspecting the Tesla Motors facility in Tokyo, saying "Tesla is a great example of how exports and trade help the U.S. economy and create good-paying jobs at home in America. Our trade ties overseas help Tesla sell a world-class product that's manufactured in the U.S. by top-notch American workers," Baucus said. "There are millions of consumers in Japan and across the Pacific ready to buy more American-made goods, and we can continue to open those markets and boost U.S. exports with an aggressive trade agenda."<ref name=Equities.com>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

VietnamEdit

On July 14, 2009, The Wall Street Journal published an editorial on Baucus's attitude over Vietnam's "tra" and "basa" pangasius, saying there was no reason for America to launch a trade war with Vietnam over fish.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Không có lý do gì về cá tra, basa Việt Nam Template:In lang</ref> "He's dead right about a trade issue now percolating in Washington," said the newspaper. The article, entitled "Max Baucus's Fish SenseTemplate:SndProtectionism often hurts the protectionist", outlined this controversial topic in Washington and underlined the possibility that the U.S. Department of Agriculture could effectively ban imports from Vietnam of pangasius fish, which are similar to U.S.-produced catfish.<ref>US Senator warns against trade barriers to Vietnam's fish Template:Webarchive</ref>

The ostensible reason for the move would be food safety and the USDA is considering whether Vietnamese fish should be subject to a stricter safety inspection regime. But the article noted that there have been no reported cases of Vietnamese fish making American consumers sick and the proposed inspections would be onerous.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It quoted Baucus as telling Congress Daily, "If we expect other countries to follow the rules and drop these restrictions, it is critical that we play by the rules and do not block imports for arbitrary or unscientific reasons."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Gun policyEdit

In 1994, Baucus cast a pivotal vote in favor of Senator Dianne Feinstein's (D-CA) "Assault Weapons" Ban.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2013, Baucus was one of four Democrats to vote against the Manchin-Toomey Amendment to expand background checks for potential gun buyers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He is an avid hunter.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1999, Baucus was the only Democrat to vote against an amendment by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) that sought to "regulate the sale of firearms at gun shows"— after the Columbine High School massacre.<ref name=stir/>

In 2014, he cast one of only four Democratic votes against universal gun show background checks.<ref name=stir>"Baucus stirs controversy on all sides," Politico.</ref> The Progressive Change Campaign Committee ran ads in Montana saying: "Senator Baucus, it was WRONG to vote 'no' on stopping gun violence. 79% of Montana voters support background checks. Stand with us, not gun manufacturers."<ref name=we>"Why liberals are glad Sen. Max Baucus is retiring," The Week.</ref> The group planned to spend money to unseat Baucus over his vote on gun control in the 2014 election, but he chose not to seek reelection.<ref name=we/>

Health care reformEdit

Template:See also

In 2013, Baucus was criticized for his comments concerning the implementation of Obamacare provisions specifically stating it could turn into a "train-wreck". He feared that the changes and their specific implementations would have a negative impact on small business owners stating "When I am home, small businesses have no idea what to do, what to expect. They don't know what affordability rules are; they don't know when penalties may apply. They just don't know.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> While Baucus was very supportive of the intent of the new legislation saying "I spent two years of my life working on the Affordable Care Act. There is nothing I want more than for it to succeed," he was very critical of the resulting rollout.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Senate finance committeeEdit

As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Baucus called the first Senate meeting of interested parties before the committee to discuss health care reform, including representatives from pharmaceutical groups, insurance companies, and HMOs and hospital management companies. Some viewed the meeting as controversial because it did not include representatives from groups calling for single-payer health care.

Opposition to single payer health careEdit

Advocate groups attended a Senate Finance Committee meeting in May 2009 to protest their exclusion as well as statements by Baucus that "single payer was not an option on the table." Baucus later had eight protesters removed by police who arrested them for disrupting the hearing. Many of the single-payer advocates said it was a "pay to play" event.<ref name=schultz>[1]Template:Dead link MSNBC The Ed Show: Is Single payer on or off the table?</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>"Polls Show Strong Support for Single-Payer Health Program" Template:Webarchive. Sustainable Middle Class (citing 2009 polls by CNN and CBS News/NYT). Retrieved on July 22, 2009.</ref> A representative of the Business Roundtable, which includes 35 memberships of health maintenance organizations, health insurance and pharmaceutical companies, admitted that other countries, with lower health costs, and higher quality of care, such as those with single-payer systems, have a competitive advantage over the United States with its private system.<ref name=rn_sh>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

At the next meeting on health care reform of the Senate Finance Committee, Baucus had five more doctors and nurses removed and arrested.<ref>Health care reform advocates get arrested while protesting Template:Webarchive, The Billings Gazette</ref><ref>Police eject protesters from Senate health hearing Template:Dead link Template:Cbignore, The Associated Press</ref><ref>Make it the Baucus 13 Template:Webarchive, Single Payer Action</ref> Baucus admitted a few weeks later in June 2009 that it was a mistake to rule out a single payer plan<ref name="nytimes.com">Herszenhorn, David (June 23, 2009). "Baucus Grabs Pacesetter Role on Health Bill". NYT. Retrieved on July 22, 2009.</ref> because doing so alienated a large, vocal constituency and left President Barack Obama's proposal of a public health plan to compete with private insurers as the most liberal position.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> Obama expressed deep frustration with Baucus regarding negotiations over the Affordable Care Act saying "A part of me wanted to get up, grab Baucus by the shoulders, and shake him till he came to his senses."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Baucus has used the term "uniquely American solution" to describe the end point of current health reform and has said he believes America is not ready yet for any form of single payer health care. This is the same term the insurance trade association, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), is using. AHIP has launched the Campaign for an American Solution, which argues for the use of private health insurance instead of a government backed program.<ref name="cjr.org"/> Critics have said Medicare is already effectively a single-payer system.<ref>Baucus's Raucous Caucus: Doctors, Nurses and Activists Arrested Again for Protesting Exclusion of Single-Payer Advocates at Senate Hearing on Health Care, Democracy Now</ref>

Years after his departure from the Senate, Baucus said it would make sense to seriously consider a single-payer system.<ref>Gail Schontzler. Baucus backs single-payer health system. Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 8 Sept 2017.</ref>

Conflicts of interestEdit

Ties to health insurance and pharmaceutical industriesEdit

Baucus has been criticized for his ties to the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries, and was one of the greatest beneficiaries in the Senate of campaign contributions from these industries.<ref name=schultz/> From 2003-08, Baucus received $3,973,485 from the health sector, including $852,813 from pharmaceutical companies, $851,141 from health professionals, $784,185 from the insurance industry. and $465,750 from HMOs/health services, according to OpenSecrets.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Jack Cafferty, "Six lobbyists per lawmaker enough on health care?" CNN, September 3, 2009.</ref> A 2006 study by Public Citizen found that between 1999 and 2005 Baucus, along with former Senate majority leader Bill Frist, took in the most special-interest money of any senator.<ref name="Ari Berman">Template:Cite news</ref>

Only three senators have more former staffers working as lobbyists on K Street, at least two dozen in Baucus's case.<ref name="Ari Berman"/> Several of Baucus's ex-staffers, including former chief of staff David Castagnetti, are now working for the pharmaceutical and health insurance industries.<ref name="Carol Eisenberg">Template:Cite news</ref> Castagnetti co-founded the lobbying firm of Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, which represents America's Health Insurance Plans Inc, the national trade group of health insurance companies, the Medicare Cost Contractors Alliance, as well as Amgen, AstraZeneca, and Merck & Company. Another former chief of staff, Jeff Forbes, opened his own lobbying shop and to represent the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and the Advanced Medical Technology Association, among other groups. Template:Citation needed

A statistical analysis of the impact of political contributions on individual senators' support for the public insurance option conducted by Nate Silver has suggested that Baucus was an unlikely supporter of the public option in the first place. Based on Baucus's political ideology and the per capita health care spending in Montana, Silver's model projects that there would be only a 30.6% probability of Baucus supporting a public insurance option even if he had received no relevant campaign contributions. Silver calculates that the impact on Baucus of the significant campaign contributions that he has received from the health care industry further reduces the probability of his supporting a public insurance option from 30.6% to 0.6%.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In response to the questions raised by the large amount of funding he took from the health care industry, Baucus declared a moratorium as of July 1, 2009 on taking more special interest money from health care political action committees.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">Eggen, Dan (July 21, 2009). "Industry Cash Flowed To Drafters of Reform; Key Senator Baucus Is a Leading Recipient", Washington Post; retrieved July 22, 2009.</ref> Baucus, however, refused to return as part of his moratorium any of the millions of dollars he has received from health care industry interests before July 1, 2009, or to rule out a resumption of taking the same or greater health care industry contributions in the future.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/> His policy on not taking health care industry money reportedly still allowed him to accept money from lobbyists or corporate executives, who, according to The Washington Post, continued to make donations after July 1, 2009.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/>

A watchdog group found that in July 2009 Baucus accepted additional money from the health care industry in violation of his own self-defined moratorium terms, reportedly leading Baucus to return those monies.<ref>Roth, Zachary (July 21, 2009) "CORRECTED: Oops! Baucus Caught Out On Claim He Renounced SAYS HE RETURNED Health-Care PAC Dollars", TPM; retrieved July 22, 2009</ref>

In 2013, journalist Jonathan Cohn wrote in The New Republic: "It's not a huge exaggeration to say Baucus's career represents everything that is wrong with Washington."<ref name=we/> That year The New York Times reported that 28 former Baucus staffers had lobbied on tax issues during the Obama administration — the most of any member of Congress, and that on a regular basis Baucus would fly lobbyists to his ranch for weekend fundraisers.<ref name=we/>

Nomination of girlfriend for US AttorneyEdit

In 2008, Baucus, while he was still married to his second wife, nominated his girlfriend and state office director, Melodee Hanes, to the vacant position of U.S. Attorney for Montana.<ref name=lov>"Baucus one of the Washington club," Politico.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Wall Street Journal reported that according to several people he did not mention his relationship to the White House or to the attorney who tasked with reviewing candidates when he made the recommendation.<ref>"Baucus and His Personal Life No Stranger to Controversy," Fox News.</ref> Hanes then withdrew her nomination before the conflict of interest was discovered, because (according to Baucus) they wanted to be together in Washington, D.C. Both the Senator and Hanes had ended their marriages within the previous year; Hanes had met with the divorce lawyer of Baucus in 2007 at least twice, to discuss how the senator's work would be affected if he were to divorce his wife.<ref>"Baucus Aide Met With Divorce Lawyer," The New York Times, December 11, 2009.</ref> Baucus said he was separated from his wife before he began seeing Hanes.<ref name="google.com">Daly, Matthew (December 5, 2009). "Baucus: Girlfriend merited US attorney nomination". AP. Retrieved on December 5, 2009.</ref><ref name="Konane's Blog linking to resume">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Critics questioned whether he had misused his power to promote his lover and former aide.<ref name=lov/> Marc Ambinder of The Atlantic wrote: "That Baucus would ignore the conflict of the interest or so easily dismiss it calls into question his judgment and his ethics. That's a scandal."<ref>"Does Sen. Max Baucus's Scandal Matter?; The former lead player on health care recommended his girlfriend for a U.S. attorney job," The Atlantic.</ref>

Political campaignsEdit

2002Edit

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The 2002 Montana elections got national attention when Baucus's opponent, state senator Mike Taylor, accused Baucus of having implied in a campaign ad that Taylor was gay. 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 1980s 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 percent of the vote.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2008Edit

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Baucus sought re-election in 2008 in Montana, a state that has seen political change starting in 2004 when it elected Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer and then in 2006 Democratic Senator Jon Tester by a slim margin. Montana was the only state in the U.S. to turn over a chamber of its legislature to Republican control in 2006. The legislative chamber had a one-seat Democratic majority that then became a one-seat Republican majority.

Baucus raised a record amount of money for his 2008 re-election bid, 91 percent of which came from individuals living outside of Montana.<ref>Missoulian: Baucus's campaign fills coffers with out-of-state funds</ref> Similarly, according to OpenSecrets, Baucus's 2008 campaign raised $11.6Template:Spacesmillion, only 13 percent of which came from Montana donors; the rest included millions from health care and other industries overseen by Finance and Baucus's other committees.<ref name="npr.org">Seabrook, Andrea & Overby, Peter (July 22, 2009). "Baucus Linchpin In Health Care Talks". NPR, All Things Considered. Retrieved on July 22, 2009.</ref>

So as Baucus and other lawmakers attempt to craft a bill that can smash through a virtual gridlock of interests, the awkward question lingers: to whom are they more attentive, their voting constituencies back home or the dollar constituencies who are at the Capitol every day?<ref name="npr.org"/>

As a result of Baucus's significant fund-raising advantage, in the week he announced his intention to run for re-election he opened eight state officesTemplate:Sndone more than he had official offices in the state. Baucus also announced that he had hired 35 full-time campaign staff members. Baucus won re-election in a landslide victory, with 73% of the vote, carrying every county in the state.

U.S. Ambassador to ChinaEdit

File:Secretary Kerry Is Greeted by U.S. Ambassador Baucus Upon His Arrival to Beijing for the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (27267385780).jpg

Baucus greeting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at Beijing Capital International Airport in June 2016

On December 20, 2013, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Baucus to the post of Ambassador to China.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He submitted Baucus's nomination to the Senate on January 7, 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A hearing on the nomination was held by the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on January 28, 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His nomination was reported to the full Senate on February 4, 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was confirmed by the full Senate on February 6, 2014 by a vote of 96–0 and Baucus himself voting "Present".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Baucus was sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden on February 21, 2014;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> ending the ambassadorship of Gary Locke. Baucus cannot speak Mandarin Chinese, which was historically unusual for this position.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Baucus ended his ambassadorship in January 2017, as President Donald Trump nominated Governor Terry Branstad from Iowa to serve as the next Ambassador to China.

Later careerEdit

Baucus served on the Board of Advisors to Alibaba Group until May 2019.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Electoral historyEdit

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Personal lifeEdit

Baucus has one son by his first wife, Ann Geracimos. Baucus and Geracimos divorced in 1982.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Baucus came under fire from critics calling him a beltway insider who no longer really lived in Montana and only occasionally came to visit.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Until 1991, Baucus owned a house in Missoula, where he practiced law for three years before running for Congress in 1974. He didn't own a home again in Montana until February 2002, when he bought half of his mother's house from the ranch started by Baucus's great-grandfather in 1897.

In April 2009, the Associated Press reported that Baucus and his second wife, the former Wanda Minge, were divorcing after 25 years of marriage and had "parted ways amicably and with mutual respect".<ref name="news.yahoo.com">Template:Cite news</ref>

On July 2, 2011, Baucus married girlfriend and former office manager Hanes at the Sieben Ranch in Montana.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Baucus has completed a 50-mile ultramarathon and has crewed for winner and Vermont native Nikki Kimball at the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run, which he hoped to run in the future.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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Senator Max Baucus official U.S. Senate website (archived)

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