View source for Max Baucus

{{Short description|American politician (born 1941)}}
{{use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name         = Max Baucus
| image        = Portrait of Ambassador Max Baucus.jpg
| caption      = Official portrait, 2014
| office       = 11th [[United States Ambassador to China]]
| president    = [[Barack Obama]]
| term_start   = March 20, 2014
| term_end     = January 16, 2017
| predecessor  = [[Gary Locke]]
| successor    = [[Terry Branstad]]
| jr/sr1       = United States Senator
| state1       = [[Montana]]
| term_start1  = December 15, 1978
| term_end1    = February 6, 2014
| predecessor1 = [[Paul G. Hatfield|Paul Hatfield]]
| successor1   = [[John Walsh (Montana politician)|John Walsh]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Senate positions|titlestyle=border: 1px dashed lightgrey;}}
{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office2      = Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Finance|Senate Finance Committee]]
| term_start2  = January 4, 2007
| term_end2    = February 6, 2014
| predecessor2 = [[Chuck Grassley]]
| successor2   = [[Ron Wyden]]
| term_start3  = June 6, 2001
| term_end3    = January 3, 2003
| predecessor3 = Chuck Grassley
| successor3   = Chuck Grassley
| term_start4  = January 3, 2001
| term_end4    = January 20, 2001
| predecessor4 = [[William Roth]]
| successor4   = Chuck Grassley
| office5      = Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Senate Environment Committee]]
| term_start5  = January 3, 1993
| term_end5    = January 3, 1995
| predecessor5 = [[Daniel Patrick Moynihan]]
| successor5   = [[John Chafee]]
}}
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| state6       = [[Montana]]
| district6    = {{ushr|MT|1|1st}}
| term_start6  = January 3, 1975
| term_end6    = December 14, 1978
| predecessor6 = [[Richard G. Shoup|Richard Shoup]]
| successor6   = [[John Patrick Williams|Pat Williams]]
| birth_name   = Maxwell Sieben Enke
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1941|12|11}}
| birth_place  = [[Helena, Montana]], U.S.
| death_date   = 
| death_place  = 
| party        = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse       = {{ubl |{{marriage|Ann Geracimos|1975|1982|end=div}} |{{marriage|Wanda Minge|1984|2009|end=div}} |{{marriage|Melodee Hanes|2011}}}}
| children     = 1
| education    = [[Carleton College]] (attended)<br>[[Stanford University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| module       = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Sen. Max Baucus on the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008.ogg |title=Baucus's voice |type=speech |description=Baucus on [[Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008|Medicare reform legislation]].<br>Recorded July 9, 2008}}
}}
'''Maxwell Sieben Baucus''' ({{né}} '''Enke'''; born December 11, 1941) is an American politician who served as a [[List of former United States senators|United States senator]] from [[Montana]] from 1978 to 2014. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he was a U.S. senator for over 35 years, making him the longest-serving U.S. senator in [[History of Montana|Montana history]]. President [[Barack Obama]] later appointed Baucus to replace [[Gary Locke]] as the 11th [[United States Ambassador to China|U.S. 

Ambassador to the People's Republic of China]], a position he held from 2014 until 2017.<ref name=sixth>{{cite news|date=2009-01-06|work=Max Baucus, U.S. Senator from Montana|title=BAUCUS' HISTORIC 6th TERM BEGINS: Sworn In, Montana's Senator Outlines Key Priorities|url=http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=31|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304032301/http://baucus.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=31|archive-date=2010-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-fires-us-ambassadors-no-replacements-a7538256.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220512/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-fires-us-ambassadors-no-replacements-a7538256.html |archive-date=2022-05-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title= Donald Trump has fired all foreign US ambassadors with nobody to replace them |newspaper=The Independent |first= Rachel |last= Revesz |date= January 20, 2017 |access-date= January 20, 2017}}</ref>

As the Chairman of the [[United States Senate Committee on Finance|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 ). [https://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/baucus_watch.php Baucus Watch: A key senator on health reform holds a listening session], Columbia Journalism Review</ref> He was also chairman of the [[United States Congress Joint Committee on Taxation|Joint Committee on Taxation]], a member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry|Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry]] and the [[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works]], and was chairman of the [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure|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 education==
Maxwell Sieben Enke was born on December 11, 1941, in [[Helena, Montana]], to historian and rancher [[Jean Baucus|Jean Sheriff]] (1917–2011) and Stephen Enke (1916–1974), a demographer and economist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1974/09/28/archives/dr-stephen-enke-demographer-dies.html|title=Dr. Stephen Enke, Demographer, Dies|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 28, 1974|access-date=March 3, 2022}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://mtstandard.com/timeline-of-retiring-d-sen-max-baucus/article_9fad48c0-912e-11e3-b130-0019bb2963f4.html|title=Timeline of retiring D-Sen. Max Baucus|website=Montana Standard|date=9 February 2014 |language=en|access-date=2019-10-18}}</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>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240418021300/https://casetext.com/case/application-of-enke "In re on Behalf of Enke,"] Supreme Court of Montana, July 20, 1955.</ref><ref>Jennifer McKee (September 29, 2008). [https://helenair.com/news/state-regional/baucus-raised-for-ranch-life-but-took-different-road/article_d99fa9e3-69d0-5ab2-8b49-09e47bdfe22c.html "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>{{cite web|author=Jennifer McKee|url=http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_c6d4f692-8f60-57de-b4be-09250c1c731c.html|title=Ranch roots to D.C. career: Democrat Baucus running for 6th term in U.S. Senate|publisher=Missoulian.com|date=2008-09-28|access-date=2012-10-19}}</ref> Baucus graduated from [[Helena High School]] in 1959.<ref>{{cite web|title=Max's Biography|url=http://www.baucus.senate.gov/?p=maxs_biography|publisher=baucus.senate.gov|access-date=October 23, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016230707/http://www.baucus.senate.gov/?p=maxs_biography|archive-date=October 16, 2012}}</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>{{cite web|title=125 Montana Newsmakers: Sen. Max Baucus|url=http://www.greatfallstribune.com/multimedia/125newsmakers6/baucus.html|work=Great Falls Tribune|author=Tribune Staff|access-date=August 29, 2011}}</ref>

== Early career ==
[[File:Max Baucus 1977 Congressional photo.jpg|thumb|left|200px|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>{{cite news|url=https://prospect.org/features/sleeper-senate/ |work=American Prospect|title=The Sleeper of the Senate|author=Ezra Klein|date=November 6, 2008}}</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>{{Cite web|url=https://helenair.com/news/local/in-years-the-max-baucus-has-made-a-lasting-impact/article_ef96be24-914d-11e3-a061-0019bb2963f4.html|title=In 40 years, the Max Baucus has made a lasting impact on Montana, Congress|author=MIKE DENNISON and CHARLES S. JOHNSON |website=Helena Independent Record|date=9 February 2014 |language=en|access-date=2019-10-18}}</ref>

==U.S. Senate==
[[File:Max S Baucus.jpg|thumb|Baucus during his tenure in the U.S. Senate]]

Baucus was elected to the [[United States Senate]] on [[1978 United States Senate election in Montana|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>{{cite news|last=Killough|first=Ashley|title=Sen. Baucus not seeking a seventh term|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/23/sen-baucus-not-seeking-a-seventh-term|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423160530/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/23/sen-baucus-not-seeking-a-seventh-term/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 23, 2013|publisher=CNN|access-date=April 23, 2013|date=April 23, 2013}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===

* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry|Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry]]'''
** [[United States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Domestic and Foreign Marketing, Inspection, and Plant and Animal Health|Subcommittee on Domestic and Foreign Marketing, Inspection, and Plant and Animal Health]]
** [[United States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Production, Income Protection and Price Support|Subcommittee on Production, Income Protection and Price Support]]
** [[United States Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Hunger, Nutrition and Family Farms|Subcommittee on Hunger, Nutrition and Family Farms]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Finance|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.
** [[United States Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation, IRS Oversight, and Long-Term Growth|Subcommittee on Taxation, IRS Oversight, and Long-term Growth]]
** [[United States Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth|Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Committee on Environment and Public Works]]'''
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety|Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety]]
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health|Subcommittee on Superfund, Toxics and Environmental Health]]
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure]] (Chairman)
* '''[[United States Congress Joint Committee on Taxation|Joint Committee on Taxation]]''' (Chairman)
* '''[[United States Congress Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction|Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction]]'''

==Political positions==

[[File:MAXWH.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Senator [[Chuck Grassley]] (left) and Representative [[E. Clay Shaw Jr.|E. Clay Shaw]] (right) with Baucus at the [[White House]]]]

As a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] member of the Senate, Baucus was conservative,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dscc.org/content?content_item_KEY=1448|title=Biography of Senator Max Baucus|publisher=Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee|access-date=2009-05-11}}</ref> and frequently broke with his party on the issues of [[Taxes in the United States|taxes]], the [[Environmental policy of the United States|environment]], health care, and [[Gun politics in the United States|gun control]]. The web site That's My Congress gives him a 23 percent rating on progressive issues it tracks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thatsmycongress.com/senate/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213140716/http://thatsmycongress.com/senate/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 13, 2009|title=Progressive Rankings and Contact Information for Members of the Senate in the 111th Congress|access-date=2009-09-30}}</ref> [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]]'s [[political action committee]] endorsed Baucus during his [[United States Senate election in Montana, 2008|2008 election]] campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/pro-choice-winners.html |title=Winning Pro-Choice Candidates |publisher=NARAL Pro-Choice America |access-date=2009-05-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506185441/http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/pro-choice-winners.html |archive-date=May 6, 2009 }}</ref>

===Civil rights===
The [[American Civil Liberties Union]] gave Baucus a 60 percent rating in December 2002, indicating a mixed [[Civil and political rights|civil rights]] voting record.<ref name="oti">{{Cite journal |title=Max Baucus on Civil Rights |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Max_Baucus_Civil_Rights.htm |journal=[[On the Issues]] |date=2009-09-01 |access-date=2009-09-16 }}</ref>

====LGBT rights====
In 2006, the [[Human Rights Campaign]] (HRC) gave Baucus a 67% overall rating indicating having a mixed record on voting for gay rights.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ontheissues.org/Notebook/Note_06n-HRC.htm|title=Public Notes on 06n-HRC|website=www.ontheissues.org|access-date=2018-08-23}}</ref> In 1996, Baucus voted in favor of the [[Defense of Marriage Act]] (DOMA) which prohibited "[[same sex marriage|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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Max_Baucus_Civil_Rights.htm#06n-HRC|title=Max Baucus on Civil Rights|website=www.ontheissues.org|access-date=2018-08-23}}</ref> However, in 2004 he voted against the [[Federal Marriage Amendment|proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://votesmart.org/bill/votes/7773|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-23}}</ref> and in June 2012 he definitively spoke out in support for [[same-sex marriage]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Charles S. Johnson|url=http://m.helenair.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/montana-democrats-endorse-same-sex-marriage/article_b17b1846-b2bb-11e1-ae1c-0019bb2963f4.html|title=Max Baucus on his position on Marriage Equality|publisher=M.helenair.com|date=2012-06-10|access-date=2012-10-19}}</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>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00281 |title=United States Senate Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Roll Call |publisher=Senate.gov |access-date=2012-10-19}}</ref>

====Tobacco tax extension====
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>{{cite web|url=http://www.lvrj.com/business/roll-your-own-cigarette-operations-to-be-snuffed-out-161539845.html |title=Roll-your-own cigarette operations to be snuffed out|publisher=Lvrj.com|access-date=2012-10-19}}</ref>

====Voting rights for Washington, D.C.====
Baucus voted against giving voting representation to the [[Washington, D.C.|District of Columbia]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Project Vote Smart – Senator Max S. Baucus Voting Record | work = Project Vote Smart | url = http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=53315 | access-date = 12 June 2010}}</ref>

===Economic issues===

[[File:Baucus Geithner 4.jpg|thumb|right|300px|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">{{cite web|url=https://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Max_Baucus.htm|title=Max Baucus on the issues|publisher=OnTheIssues.org|access-date=June 5, 2009}}</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>{{cite web|url=http://baucus.senate.gov/about/values.cfm |title=Congressional website |publisher=Baucus.senate.gov |access-date=2012-10-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926191626/http://baucus.senate.gov/about/values.cfm |archive-date=2007-09-26 }}</ref>

Baucus voted for the [[Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001|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 in the United States|estate tax]].<ref name="Max Baucus on the issues"/>

In March 2005, Baucus voted against repealing tax subsidies benefiting companies that [[outsourcing|outsource]] U.S. jobs offshore. On January 4, 2007, he wrote an editorial in the ''[[The Wall Street Journal|Wall Street Journal]]'' calling on Democrats to renew President [[George W. Bush]]'s fast-track authority for international trade deals.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116787470676166607?mod=todays_us_opinion |title = A Democratic Trade Agenda |work = The Wall Street Journal |author = Max Baucus |date = 4 January 2007 |access-date = 6 June 2009 }}</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>{{cite news |url = https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aAu.irc2WjF0 |title = Baucus Told by Montana Legislature to Oppose New Trade Measure |work = Bloomberg.com |author = Mark Drajem  |date = 27 February 2007 |access-date = 6 June 2009 }}</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, [[Party leaders of the United States Senate|Senate Majority Leader]] [[Harry Reid]] appointed Baucus to the [[United States Congress Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Walsh|first=Deirdre|title=Reid taps Sen. Murray to co-chair debt committee|url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/08/09/debt.committee.appointments/index.html?eref=rss_topstories|access-date=9 August 2011|newspaper=CNN|date=August 10, 2011}}</ref>

===Environmental issues===

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 car]]s. But he voted against the [[corporate average fuel economy]] standards (CAFE) and on increasing federal funds for [[solar power|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%. {{citation needed|date=November 2013}}

===Foreign affairs===
====Cuba====

As a senator, Baucus opposed the [[United States embargo against Cuba]] and travel restrictions.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/07/politics/07cuba.html |author=Christopher Marquis |work=New York Times |date=2004-05-07 |quote=Senator Max Baucus{{spaces}}... said the new plan amounted to a misuse of taxpayer money: 'At a time when the United States faces very real terrorist threats in the Middle East and elsewhere, the administration's absurd and increasingly bizarre obsession with Cuba is more than just a shame, it's a dangerous diversion from reality.'|title=Bush Proposes a Plan to Aid Opponents of Castro in Cuba |access-date=May 12, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130516055455/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/07/politics/07cuba.html |archive-date=May 16, 2013 }}</ref>

====Iraq War====

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 U.S. troops from Iraq (2007–2011)|withdrawal of American combat personnel]] from [[Iraq]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/109/senate/2/votes/181/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=May 12, 2010 |title=109th Congress, 2nd session, Senate vote 181}}</ref>

On July 29, 2006,<ref>[http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/breaking_news/15173991.htm Sun Herald news report]{{dead link|date=October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna14140498 |title=Montana senator's nephew dies in Iraq |publisher=NBC News |date=2006-01-08 |access-date=2012-10-19}}</ref> Baucus's nephew [[United States Marine Corps|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 (United States)|1st Marine Division]], [[I Marine Expeditionary Force]].<ref>[http://www.defenselink.mil/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=9799 DefenseLink: "DoD Identifies Marine Casualty"]</ref>

On January 10, 2007, the day of President Bush's address on his [[Iraq War troop surge of 2007|plan to increase troop levels]] in Iraq, Baucus spoke against the increases and called for a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/index.cfm?mode=entry&entry=0D157470-E0C3-F090-A6CADAAEE8EEBF77|title=Today, I am proud Max Baucus is my U.S. Senator|author=David Sirota|publisher=[[Working Assets|Working for Change]]|date=January 10, 2007|access-date=2007-01-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070121174440/http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/index.cfm?mode=entry&entry=0D157470-E0C3-F090-A6CADAAEE8EEBF77|archive-date=January 21, 2007|author-link=David Sirota}}</ref>

====Israel====

Baucus was one of the Senate's largest career recipients of [[Israel lobby in the United States|pro-Israel]] [[Political action committee|Political Action Committee]] (PAC) contributions, receiving $550,589 since 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00004643 |title=Max Baucus: Campaign Finance/Money – Industries – Career |publisher=OpenSecrets |date=2010-08-01 |access-date=2010-08-29}}</ref>

====Japan====

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 [[Economy of the United States|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>{{cite web|title= Baucus Sees U.S. Export Success Story at Tesla Motors in Tokyo|url=http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2012-08-25&val=415136&cat=energy|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130122050932/http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2012-08-25&val=415136&cat=energy|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 22, 2013|work=Equities.com|access-date=September 2, 2012}}</ref>

====Vietnam====

On July 14, 2009, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' published an editorial on Baucus's attitude over [[Vietnam]]'s "[[tra fish|tra]]" and "[[Basa fish|basa]]" [[pangasius]], saying there was no reason for America to launch a [[trade war]] with Vietnam over [[fish]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124753151017535963 |title=Max Baucus's Fish Sense |publisher=WSJ |date=2009-07-14 |access-date=2012-10-19}}</ref><ref>[https://www.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Khong-co-ly-do-gi-ve-ca-tra-basa-Viet-Nam/20097/10881.vnplus Không có lý do gì về cá tra, basa Việt Nam] {{in lang|vi}}</ref> "He's dead right about a trade issue now percolating in Washington," said the newspaper. The article, entitled "Max Baucus's Fish Sense{{snd}}Protectionism 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>[http://english.vietnamnet.vn/biz/2009/07/858241/ US Senator warns against trade barriers to Vietnam's fish] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718040424/http://english.vietnamnet.vn/biz/2009/07/858241/ |date=July 18, 2009 }}</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>{{cite web|url=http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/US-senator-protests-over-ban-on-Vietnams-fish/20097/105923.vov|title=US senator protests over ban on Vietnam's fish|publisher=vovnews.vn|access-date=2012-10-19|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727023724/http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/US-senator-protests-over-ban-on-Vietnams-fish/20097/105923.vov|archive-date=2011-07-27}}</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>{{cite web|url=http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_fcbfd3ec-f7a8-5dd1-851f-889361d3c2a7.html|title=Catfish fight could hurt beef producers|publisher=Billingsgazette.com|date=2009-06-27|access-date=2012-10-19}}</ref>

===Gun policy===

In 1994, Baucus cast a pivotal vote in favor of Senator [[Dianne Feinstein]]'s "Assault Weapons" Ban.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pro-gun-voters-put-heat-on-democratic-senators/ | work=Fox News | title=Pro-gun voters put heat on Democratic senators | date=March 9, 2013}}</ref> 

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

In 2013, Baucus was one of four Democrats to vote against the [[Joe Manchin|Manchin]]-[[Pat Toomey|Toomey]] Amendment to expand [[background check]]s for potential gun buyers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Senate rejects gun background checks|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/04/17/guns-background-checks-manchin-senate/2090105/|work=USA Today|access-date=April 19, 2013|first1=Gregory|last1=Korte|first2=Catalina|last2=Camia|date=April 17, 2013}}</ref> He is an avid hunter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mtoutlaw.com/baucus/|title=Max Baucus Finally Walks Home |date=May 3, 2024 }}</ref>

In 2014, Baucus cast one of only four Democratic votes against universal [[Gun show loophole|gun show background checks]].<ref name=stir>[https://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/max-baucus-stirring-controversy-on-all-sides-090295 "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>[https://theweek.com/articles/465220/why-liberals-are-glad-sen-max-baucus-retiring "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 reform===

{{See also|America's Healthy Future Act}}

In 2013, Baucus was criticized for his comments concerning the implementation of [[Affordable Care Act|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>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/article/2013/aug/06/context-obamacare-train-wreck/|title=In Context: Obamacare|work=PolitiFact Wisconsin|access-date=2018-08-23|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/147928-baucus-warns-of-huge-train-wreck-enacting-obamacare-provisions/|title=Baucus warns of 'huge train wreck' enacting ObamaCare provisions|last=Baker|first=Sam|date=2013-04-17|work=TheHill|access-date=2018-08-23|language=en}}</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>{{Cite magazine|url=https://swampland.time.com/2013/11/06/obamacare-architect-slams-health-care-law-rollout/|title=Obamacare Architect Slams Health Care Law Rollout|last=Pickert|first=Kate|magazine=Time|access-date=2018-08-23|language=en-US|issn=0040-781X}}</ref>

====Senate finance committee====

As chairman of the [[Senate Finance Committee]], Baucus called the first Senate meeting of interested parties before the committee to discuss [[Health care reform in the United States|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 care====

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">[http://www.edschultzshow.com/videoblog/details.asp?BID=111]{{dead link|date=November 2016|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} MSNBC The Ed Show: Is Single payer on or off the table?</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=3665Single-payer|title=Doctors Protest Exclusion of Single-Payer at Senate Finance Committee|date=2009-05-05|publisher=The Real News Network|access-date=2009-05-11}}</ref><ref>[http://blog.sustainablemiddleclass.com/?p=1105 "Polls Show Strong Support for Single-Payer Health Program"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611022707/http://blog.sustainablemiddleclass.com/?p=1105 |date=2009-06-11 }}. 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 organization]]s, health insurance and [[pharmaceutical]] companies, admitted that other countries, with lower health costs, and higher quality of care, such as those with [[single-payer health care|single-payer]] systems, have a competitive advantage over the United States with its [[privatization|private system]].<ref name=rn_sh>{{cite web|url=http://www.healthcare-now.org/real-news-network-single-payer-advocates-protest-senate-hearing-video/|title=Real News Network: Single-payer advocates protest Senate hearing (Video)|date=May 7, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015184711/http://www.healthcare-now.org/real-news-network-single-payer-advocates-protest-senate-hearing-video/|archive-date=October 15, 2009}}</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>[http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/05/14/news/state/20-health.txt Health care reform advocates get arrested while protesting] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090518153544/http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/05/14/news/state/20-health.txt |date=May 18, 2009 }}, The Billings Gazette</ref><ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h7ew3LLepcTvECvIELrvXJ77lT_AD984OQPO3 Police eject protesters from Senate health hearing]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, The Associated Press</ref><ref>[http://www.singlepayeraction.org/blog/?p=690 Make it the Baucus 13] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726055924/http://www.singlepayeraction.org/blog/?p=690 |date=2011-07-26 }}, 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). [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/us/politics/24baucus.html?_r=2&hp=&pagewanted=all "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 insurance option|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>{{cite magazine |last1=Obama |first1=Barack |title=A President Looks Back on His Toughest Fight |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/11/02/barack-obama-new-book-excerpt-promised-land-obamacare |access-date=27 August 2021 |magazine=The New Yorker |date=November 2, 2020}}</ref>

{{Blockquote
|text= The Baucus-headed Finance Committee has been singled out by advocates and news organizations as the toughest obstacle for the President’s health care priorities. Containing more moderate and conservative members may not be the only reason. The committee is packed with lawmakers who have close ties to the health care and insurance industries, receiving large campaign contributions as their former staffers turn around to lobby for the very interests whose issues — in this case health care — they previously worked on. Baucus, as chair, stands out in particular.
|author= Paul Blumenthal
|title= "The Max Baucus Health Care Lobbyist Complex" (22 June 2009)
|source= ''Sunlight Foundation''<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Max Baucus Health Care Lobbyist Complex : Sunlight Foundation |url=https://sunlightfoundation.com/2009/06/22/the-max-baucus-health-care-lobbyist-complex/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251108212012/https://sunlightfoundation.com/2009/06/22/the-max-baucus-health-care-lobbyist-complex/ |archive-date=2025-11-08 |access-date=2025-11-08 |website=sunlightfoundation.com |language=en-US}}</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 (United States)|Medicare]] is already effectively a single-payer system.<ref>[https://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/13/baucus_raucus_caucus_doctors_nurses_and 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. [http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/montana_state_university/baucus-backs-single-payer-health-system/article_e481abc1-3bf0-55f2-a49e-c9786a1f11a6.html Baucus backs single-payer health system]. Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 8 Sept 2017.</ref>

==Conflicts of interest==
===Ties to health insurance and pharmaceutical industries===
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>{{cite web|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?type=C&cid=N00004643&newMem=N&recs=20&cycle=2008 |title=Top Industries: Senator Max Baucus 2003-2008|publisher=[[OpenSecrets]] |date=2012-10-01|access-date=2012-10-19}}</ref><ref>Jack Cafferty, [https://web.archive.org/web/20090906112803/http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/03/six-lobbyists-per-lawmaker-enough-on-health-care/ "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">{{cite news|url=http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070319/berman|title=K Street's Favorite Democrat|work=The Nation|author=Ari Berman|date=March 6, 2007|access-date=June 6, 2009}}</ref>

Only three senators have more former staffers working as lobbyists on [[K Street (Washington, D.C.)|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">{{cite news|url=http://news.muckety.com/2009/05/21/max-baucus-holds-the-cards-on-healthcare-reform-and-most-everything-else/15961|title=Max Baucus holds cards on healthcare reform|work=Muckety|author=Carol Eisenberg|date=May 21, 2009|access-date=2009-06-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525210708/http://news.muckety.com/2009/05/21/max-baucus-holds-the-cards-on-healthcare-reform-and-most-everything-else/15961|archive-date=2009-05-25|url-status=dead}}</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. {{citation needed|date=November 2013}}

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>{{cite news|url=http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/06/special-interest-money-means-longer.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626104519/http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/06/special-interest-money-means-longer.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 26, 2009|title=Special Interest Money Means Longer Odds for Public Option|work=FiveThirtyEight|author=Nate Silver|date=June 22, 2009|access-date=June 24, 2009}}</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). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/20/AR2009072003363_pf.html "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) [http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/07/oops_baucus_caught_out_on_claim_he_renounced_healt.php "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 Attorney===
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 [[United States District Court for the District of Montana|U.S. Attorney for Montana]].<ref name=lov>[https://www.politico.com/story/2009/12/baucus-one-of-the-washington-club-030277 "Baucus one of the Washington club,"] ''Politico''.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/41188-1.html?ET=rollcall:e6074:80067576a:&st=email |title=Baucus Nominated Girlfriend for U.S. Attorney |publisher=Roll Call |date=2009-12-04 |access-date=2010-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091208012733/http://www.rollcall.com/news/41188-1.html?ET=rollcall:e6074:80067576a:&st=email |archive-date=2009-12-08 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</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>[https://www.foxnews.com/politics/baucus-and-his-personal-life-no-stranger-to-controversy "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>[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/12/us/politics/12baucus.html?searchResultPosition=2 "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). [https://web.archive.org/web/20091210202849/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gaclssZGQ_zAoO5PDIYH-tsoCc8wD9CDE9N00 "Baucus: Girlfriend merited US attorney nomination"].  AP. Retrieved on December 5, 2009.</ref><ref name="Konane's Blog linking to resume">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.lotterypost.com/konane/2009/12/baucus-girlfriend-withdrew-as-us-attorney.htm |title=Konane's Blog (linking to resume) |publisher=lotterypost.com |access-date=2012-10-19|df=mdy-all}}</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>[https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2009/12/does-sen-max-baucus-s-scandal-matter/347347/ "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 campaigns==
===2002===

{{Main|2002 United States Senate election in Montana}}

The 2002 Montana elections got national attention when Baucus's opponent, [[Montana State Senate|state senator]] Mike Taylor, accused Baucus of having implied in a campaign ad that Taylor was [[homosexuality|gay]]. The ad was paid for by the [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]], not by the Baucus campaign. The ad, which alleged that Taylor had [[embezzlement|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>{{cite news |last=Gransbery |first=Jim |url=http://www.billingsgazette.com/newdex.php?display=rednews/2002/10/10/build/local/50-taylor-bails.inc |title=Taylor quits Senate race in Montana |newspaper=Billings Gazette |date=2002-10-10 |access-date=2007-01-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205015139/http://billingsgazette.com/newdex.php?display=rednews%2F2002%2F10%2F10%2Fbuild%2Flocal%2F50-taylor-bails.inc |archive-date=2006-12-05 }}</ref>

===2008===

{{Main|2008 United States Senate election in Montana}}

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 [[United States Republican Party|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>[http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/12/03/news/local/news03.txt Missoulian: Baucus's campaign fills coffers with out-of-state funds<!--bot generated title-->]</ref> Similarly, according to [[OpenSecrets]], Baucus's 2008 campaign raised $11.6{{spaces}}million, only 13 percent of which came from Montana donors; the rest included millions from [[Health care industry|health care]] and other industries overseen by Finance and Baucus's other committees.<ref name="npr.org">Seabrook, Andrea & Overby, Peter (July 22, 2009). [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106655060 "Baucus Linchpin In Health Care Talks"]. NPR, All Things Considered. Retrieved on July 22, 2009.</ref>
<blockquote>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"/></blockquote>

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 offices{{snd}}one 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 China==
[[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|thumb|Baucus greeting U.S. Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] at [[Beijing Capital International Airport]] in June 2016]]

On December 20, 2013, President [[Barack Obama]] announced his intent to nominate Baucus to the post of [[United States Ambassador to China|U.S. Ambassador to China]].<ref>{{cite web|title=President Obama Announces his Intent to Nominate Senator Max Baucus as Ambassador to the People's Republic of China|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/12/20/president-obama-announces-his-intent-nominate-senator-max-baucus-ambassa|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|date=20 December 2013|access-date=20 December 2013}}</ref> He submitted Baucus's nomination to the Senate on January 7, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Presidential Nominations Sent to the Senate|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/01/07/presidential-nominations-sent-senate|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|date=7 January 2014|access-date=7 January 2014}}</ref>

A hearing on the nomination was held by the [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations]] on January 28, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nomination|url=https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/nomination-01-28-2014|work=U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|date=28 January 2014 |access-date=28 January 2014}}</ref> His nomination was reported to the full Senate on February 4, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Executive Calendar|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/executive_calendar/2014/02_06_2014.pdf|publisher=United States Senate|access-date=6 February 2014}}</ref> He was confirmed by the full Senate on February 6, 2014 by a vote of 96–0 and Baucus himself voting "Present".<ref>{{cite web|title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 113th Congress – 2nd Session|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=2&vote=00025|publisher=United States Senate|access-date=6 February 2014}}</ref> Baucus was sworn in by Vice President [[Joe Biden]] on February 21, 2014;<ref>{{cite web|last=Peng|first=Fu|title=Max Baucus sworn in as new U.S. ambassador to China|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-02/22/c_133135061.htm|work=Xinhuanet|access-date=25 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326232021/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-02/22/c_133135061.htm|archive-date=26 March 2014}}</ref> ending the ambassadorship of [[Gary Locke]]. Baucus cannot speak [[Mandarin Chinese]], which was historically unusual for this position.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Why Sen. Max Baucus is a strange choice for U.S. ambassador to China |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/12/18/why-sen-max-baucus-is-a-strange-choice-for-u-s-ambassador-to-china/ |access-date=2022-08-13 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

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

==Later career==
Baucus served on the Board of Advisors to [[Alibaba Group]] until May 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uschamber.com/ambassador-max-baucus|title=Ambassador Max Baucus|access-date=12 May 2020|website=[[US Chamber of Commerce]]|quote=Ambassador Baucus provides consulting services to American and Chinese businesses and serves on the Board of Directors of Ingram Micro and formerly served the Board of Advisors to Alibaba Group until May of 2019.}}</ref>

==Electoral history==

{{Election
| title = [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1974|U.S. House of Representatives election]]
| year = [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1974|1974]]
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate1 = '''Max Baucus'''
| percent1 = 54.7%
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate2 = [[Richard G. Shoup]]
| percent2 = 45.3%
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| loser = Republican Party (United States)
| majoritypercent = 9.4%
}}
{{Election
| title = [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1976|U.S. House of Representatives election]]
| year = [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1976|1976]]
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate1 = '''''Max Baucus'''''
| percent1 = 66.4%
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate2 = Bill Diehl
| percent2 = 33.6%
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| majoritypercent = 32.8%
}}
{{Election
| title = [[United States Senate election in Montana, 1978|U.S. Senate election, Montana]]
| year = [[United States Senate election in Montana, 1978|1978]]
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate1 = '''Max Baucus'''
| percent1 = 55.6%
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate2 = [[Larry R. Williams|Larry Williams]]
| percent2 = 44.4%
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| majoritypercent = 11.2%
}}
{{Election
| title = [[United States Senate election in Montana, 1984|U.S. Senate election, Montana]]
| year = [[United States Senate election in Montana, 1984|1984]]
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate1 = '''''Max Baucus'''''
| percent1 = 56.9%
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate2 = Chuck Cozzens
| percent2 = 40.7%
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| majoritypercent = 16.2%
}}
{{Election
| title = [[United States Senate election in Montana, 1990|U.S. Senate election, Montana]]
| year = [[United States Senate election in Montana, 1990|1990]]
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate1 = '''''Max Baucus'''''
| percent1 = 69.8%
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate2 = [[Allen Kolstad]]
| percent2 = 30.2%
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| majoritypercent = 39.6%
}}
{{Election
| title = [[United States Senate election in Montana, 1996|U.S. Senate election, Montana]]
| year = [[United States Senate election in Montana, 1996|1996]]
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate1 = '''''Max Baucus'''''
| percent1 = 49.5%
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate2 = [[Dennis Rehberg]]
| percent2 = 44.7%
| party3 = Reform Party (United States)
| candidate3 = Becky Shaw
| percent3 = 4.7%
| party4 = Natural Law Party
| candidate4 = Stephen Heaton
| percent4 = 1%
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| majoritypercent = 4.8%
}}
{{Election
| title = [[United States Senate election in Montana, 2002|U.S. Senate election, Montana]]
| year = [[United States Senate election in Montana, 2002|2002]]
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate1 = '''''Max Baucus'''''
| percent1 = 63%
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate2 = Mike Taylor
| percent2 = 32%
| party3 = Green Party (United States)
| candidate3 = [[Bob Kelleher]]
| percent3 = 3%
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| majoritypercent = 31%
}}
{{Election
| title = [[United States Senate election in Montana, 2008|U.S. Senate election, Montana]]
| year = [[United States Senate election in Montana, 2008|2008]]
| party1 = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate1 = '''''Max Baucus'''''
| percent1 = 73%
| party2 = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate2 = [[Robert Kelleher]]
| percent2 = 27%
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
| majoritypercent = 46%
}}

==Personal life==

Baucus has one son by his first wife, Ann Geracimos. Baucus and Geracimos divorced in 1982.<ref>{{cite web|author=McKee, Jennifer |url=http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_797c1df4-5414-59db-9bfd-d27f2ebd7f3b.html |title=New Baucus divorce report emerges |publisher=Billings Gazette |date=2009-01-05 |access-date=2010-08-29|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Baucus came under fire from critics calling him a [[Inside the Beltway (terminology)|beltway insider]] who no longer really lived in Montana and only occasionally came to visit.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://missoulian.com/news/local/gop-claims-max-baucus-is-no-longer-a-montana-resident/article_d15ae816-9ed5-5402-96a5-c79e88902471.html|title = GOP claims Max Baucus is no longer a Montana resident|author1= McKee, Jennifer|work= Missoulian State Bureau |date = 18 November 2007 |access-date = 25 July 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</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 [[Jean Baucus|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">{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_baucus_girlfriend_nominated|title=Baucus: Girlfriend merited US attorney nomination |date=2009-12-06 | agency=Associated Press |author1=Daly, Matthew |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207055755/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_baucus_girlfriend_nominated |archive-date=December 7, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On July 2, 2011, Baucus married girlfriend and former office manager Hanes at the Sieben Ranch in Montana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/58262.html |title=Max Baucus Marries in Montana |publisher=Politico. |date=July 3, 2011 |access-date=May 8, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</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>{{cite news |url=https://helenair.com/a-mile-in-max-s-shoes-former-u-s-senator/article_1abb7b11-b4ee-50d2-aacc-08320a540e28.html|title=A Mile in Max's Shoes: Former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to China, Max Baucus will always love the Governor's Cup|date=2017-05-26 |work= Helena Independent Record |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Max Baucus}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20030806163001/http://baucus.senate.gov/ Senator Max Baucus] official U.S. Senate website (archived)
{{CongLinks | congbio=b000243 | votesmart=53315 | fec=S8MT00010 | congress=max-baucus/66 }}
* {{C-SPAN|1727}}

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{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baucus, Max}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Montana Legislature]]
[[Category:20th-century United States representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century United States senators]]
[[Category:21st-century Montana politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century United States senators]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of the United States to China]]
[[Category:American men ultramarathon runners]]
[[Category:American people of Canadian descent]]
[[Category:American people of English descent]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:American people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:Carleton College alumni]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the Montana House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Montana]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States senators from Montana]]
[[Category:Helena High School alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Montana lawyers]]
[[Category:Politicians from Helena, Montana]]
[[Category:Sigma Alpha Epsilon members]]
[[Category:Stanford Law School alumni]]
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