Political Commentary: Joan McCarter
Baucus’s Bad News Week
By Joan McCarter, 7-24-09
You don’t generally think of Sen. Max Baucus as a headline-seeking kind of legislator. He’s not the guy showing up every Sunday on the talk shows, or getting into every Washington Post story to weigh in on the issue of the day. So you don’t see a lot of Max on the national stage, and that must be the way he wants it, because the chair of the Senate Finance Committee is a pretty good platform for getting attention. But he’s had a place in the headlines all week, and it hasn’t been because of his stellar work on healthcare reform--it’s because he’s now perceived as the primary cause of delays. Oh, and the fact that he’s still raking in the cash from the anti-reform lobbies.
Let’s revisit Baucus’s year so far on health reform. Back in February, he said, [pdf] “Based on the experience in 1993‐94...we must move swiftly on health reform – to take advantage of the air of inevitability and the early goodwill of health care stakeholders and interest groups.... And the longer it takes, the more likely it is that the agenda becomes crowded with other priorities.” Makes sense.
In March, he stressed a number of times that the work was on pace: March 10, “Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., doubled down on his own self-imposed time line, promising earlier action than the president has asked for. ‘We should put a health care bill on the president’s desk this summer,’ Baucus said, promising his committee will mark up the bill in June.” March 11, “Our schedule calls for the Finance Committee to mark up a comprehensive health care reform bill in June. We should put a health care bill on the President’s desk this year.” April 28, “The Finance Leaders have said they intend to mark‐up comprehensive health care reform legislation as early as June.” On May 4, Baucus said his committee is “working hard to pass legislation through the committee by mid-June.” May 7: “our schedule is on track. These discussions are preparing us to be ready to mark up a bill in June.”
Then comes June 17: “We’ll be ready when we’re ready. I just don’t want to give a firm date.” Then on June 26, “‘We’re getting a lot closer to an agreement,’ noting that committee members will consider the options over the July 4 recess and produce a bill shortly after Congress returns on July 6.”
Fast forward to July 13: “Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) has learned to stop offering deadlines for when his panel might mark up health overhaul legislation.... Already, a markup scheduled to take place before the July Fourth recess never materialized and the multiday markup expected this week has now been tentatively moved to the final week of July.”
That leads us to this week, when a lot of people started to wonder what the heck is going on in those closed door meeting Baucus is having all the time, and why they aren’t seeing anything produced. That includes his Democratic colleagues in the Senate, according to yesterday’s Roll Call.
Democrats both on and off the Finance Committee said the briefings they get about the six negotiators’ progress are too vague. Plus, they say, without a bill in hand, they cannot defend or sell the package to a wary media and public.
“At some point, [Baucus is] going to have to worry about getting Democratic votes,” said one Democratic Senator, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “If they think that we’ll take whatever it is that comes out because we want to get something passed, they’re wrong.”
What should be just as worrisome for Baucus is the increasing attention being paid to his outside activities--specifically his fundraising. He brought it on himself, of course. Remember in June when his “vacation” back home raised questions?
He did make some headlines with that collecting of campaign contributions, particularly last weekend in the form of a lobbyist party back home in Montana, hosting a bunch of lobbyists and political supporters for his Fly-Fishing & Golfing weekend in Big Sky at $2,500 a pop, $5,000 for a political action committee. He’s going to do it again at “Camp Baucus,” at the end of July. One activist characterized this all as “unseemly,” since he is at the center of the most critical reform debate of the session. Unseemly? Not in Max’s mind. “There’s no problem. I’ve been doing these events for more than 10 years.”
That leads to this week, when NPR decided to ask, “Who Has Access to Max Baucus?” You’ll be shocked, shocked by the conclusion.
Paul Blumenthal, a writer for the nonpartisan watchdog the Sunlight Foundation, mapped Baucus’ network of influence....
“We have Max Baucus, who represents a single node, as the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee,” Blumenthal explains. On his computer screen, lines radiate from Baucus to five of his former Senate staffers. Two of them served as chief of staff to Baucus, the top job in his Senate office.
All five now lobby Congress for various interests. Among their clients: drugmakers Wyeth, Merck, Amgen and AstraZeneca, plus the third-largest corporation in the world, Wal-Mart....
When Baucus ran for his sixth term last year, his campaign raised $11.6 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Nearly half of the funds came from out-of-state donors, including millions from health care and other industries overseen by Finance and Baucus’ other committees.
Just 5 percent of Baucus’ re-election funds came from Montana donors....
The fundraising balance for Baucus tips even more sharply when his personal “leadership PAC” is factored in. The committee, called Glacier PAC, raises money to pay for Baucus to travel, raise his political profile and support other Democrats....
Baucus courts these inside-the-Beltway donors by inviting them to Montana for weekend getaways — skis and snowmobiles in February, fly fishing and golf in June, and coming up on July 31, “Camp Baucus,” which is billed as “a trip for the whole family.”
Tickets start at $2,500.
Since 2005, seven out of 10 top contributors to Baucus and his leadership PAC have been from the health industry.
So that could lead a very cynical person to start thinking about the fact that once healthcare reform passes, the industry money flowing to politicians is largely going to stop flowing. It could lead a very cynical person to start wondering if Max Baucus--one of very few people in a position to hold this bill up--might be at all motivated by the lavish spending from the industry that’s going to continue as long as this process goes on.
Just 5% of his re-election campaign from Montana folks, what does that tell you. Baucus loved Bush, he was always at his side. He receives more money from Medically related lobbies than any other Senator. He has stalled the Presidents' efforts for health care reform. He would not answer my letter asking him to refuse to accept the Congressional Health Care plan until Health Care reform for the Nation was passed. Baucus has been there too long, he is a perfect example of why we need Congressional term limits, it is time for him to go, as a Republican in Democratic clothing, he does not have Montana or it's people in mind.
Comment By Mickey Garcia, 7-26-09What a disappointment! A Montana Democrat working for Big Med, Big Pharma, and Big Insurance scammers instead of against them. Mike Mansfield is probably restless in his grave. Ralph Nader was right when he claimed that Democraps are bought and paid for just like Repulsicans.
Comment By jedediah Redman, 7-26-09It would be interesting to see which corporations were behind Mike Mansfield, Montana's Senatorial Saint.
Max Baucus is not Montana's first experience with lobbyists.
I cannot wait to elect someone other than Max Baucus into office. All he has anymore these days are his big money interests, SEIU and Forward Montana to make his case. Everyone else is disgusted by his lack of devotion and absolute corruption.
Camp Baucus is a joke. Kaiser, Mastdorf, Messina, Mudd, Singer: you all might have, or will have some day, good jobs with good pay, but we know what you really are. Sell outs, crooks and liars.
Forgot to add Jim Fleischman of SEIU to that list. He ran Max's campaign in 2008 and now runs SEIU. SEIU was listed in a major article in Lee Newspapers as one of Max's biggest supporters in the state and often sends out mailings asking Montana voters to thank Max for all he has done for health care reform. It's so transparent!
Comment By bearbait, 7-27-09Montana has a history of legislation by proxy. I believe I once read the State Legislature had two attorneys on staff, and the copper barons had 20 just for the Legislature, who were loaned at no cost to write bills. If a Montana legislator did not know how to vote, all the did was turn to the gallery, where the copper baron's lawyers would signal thumbs up or down. So now that we know the history of influence, why be surprised.
When Baucus used the Farm Bill in his Senate Finance Committee last fall get a $178,000,000 reduction in tax liability for Weyerhaeuser, so they would go along with his Plum Creek Timber bailout of western Montana timberlands at a cost to the Federal Treasury of a half billion dollars or more, you had to know what kind of whore Baucus is. The Last, Best Kind.
Elect a dolt, and you get a dolt. Elect a bullet proof charismatic dolt, and you still have a dolt. But an expensive one. He is an expensive dolt who needs lots of money to play in the Big Sky. I guess America just has to keep on paying for Montana's contribution to the dolts of the Senate. I think about Byrd of West Virginia, and all the rest of those Southern states with geriatric ventilator driven Senators.
Well I never thought Mike Mansfield was a saint but I thought that he had a little more simpatico for the working stiff than Baucus because he came up from the bowels of the earth in Butte.
Comment By Mike Crill, 7-27-09FACT: Max Baucus tried to get 3M to buy the WRdisGrace mine in Libby in 1990 knowing then that the miners and town is exposed to Tremolite asbestos and in 1999, we the people were told why were are sick and dying.All from not being told at all all them years but Max Baucus could of and should of blown the whistle to end the continued deadly exposure that has killed over 2000 people of Libby.This is but a fraction of the truth of the deaths caused by Libby.Many sick and dying were never diagnosed.What is really criminal about Max Baucus is that since 1999, Max Baucus has continued to sell Libby Mt as a safe place to live and raise a family.Since 1999, over 300 people/families have moved to Libby being sold Libby as safe.In the last 6 month a man has been diagnosed with asbestosis who have lived in Libby only 5 years.This is just the beginning of those 300 plus lied to folks and Max Baucus has their blood/exposure on his hands because Max Baucus has done NOTHING to stop/end the continued killing of more innocent people/families who move to Libby to be sentenced to death.Libby is a deadly place for anything that breathe and Max Baucus IS responsible because fact is,Max Baucus should of saved hundreds of lives by telling the truth and stopping any more from exposure to something we all know kills you.Libby Mt kills you. Your entire family STILL.Is it because Max Baucus has sold his soul to WR disGrace??? I have to wonder since 1990 your ain't done crap except take credit for other peoples pats on the back.Max is a two face lier and needs to stop killing more people in Libby.Come on Max,tell the people to stay away not move here...I have not faith in this system when Libby is murdered and no one cares and they all get away with murder and continue to murder.This is so crazy.Does any one care out there????
Comment By Mike Crill, 7-27-09And then Tester and Baucus want to open a VA clinic to expose all our Vets to Tremolite asbestos in all places...Libby Mt.I say no way Baucus and Tester.Put it in Kalispell or Eureka or happy Inn/Bull Lake area but for Gods sake, NOT IN LIBBY MT.You will expose all Vets who haven't been exposed to Tremolite asbestos.Our Vets have been poisoned enough and this deadly Tremolite has no cure and you do suffer till death.And they want to do this to our Vets???Does any one out there care about this???? This is criminal. Like walking our Vets into the gas chambers of the Jews.Libby is no different because the air also is deadly and you die from what you breathe...all of you...in Libby Mt. Stay away..
Comment By bearbait, 7-27-09The man has a point. Why in the hell would you put anything in Libby, but a clay cap over it?
Comment By Mike Crill, 7-28-09Because there is millions to be made and are being made at a price of human life. EPA was told to "Lie to the people of Libby" in 1999.Instead of the issue and concern being health and safety to the people, this quickly went out the door when EPA came to Libby and told the circle of crooks that,as long as the deadly exposure to Tremolite asbestos is downplayed THEN millions will be made.Since 1999, this has been the case and with Libby being sold as safe...the killings continue, thanks to EPA/Baucus/Tester/Rehberg/Governor/etc etc etc.Stop selling Libby as safe.your killing people and you know it.Stop it please...
Comment By les holcomb, 7-28-09Max Baucus helped me a great deal in 2009. He turned me into a citizen from a consumer. When he arrogantly banned the physicians, nurses, and advocates who supported universal coverage and single-payer option from "sitting at the table" with all the usual penguins, I got angry enough (at 64) to drive 5 hours each way on St. Patrick's Day to Burlington VT and hold up a sign that said "Medicare for ALL" and joined a protest demonstration at one of the Obama health forums. I never demonstrated for anything in my life!
On Thursday I am going to DC with a bunch of others to celebrate the 44th Anniversary of Medicare and talk to Congressmen about the importance of a "public option" which Max is also trying to kill off.
I never thought that I would become a demonstrator, but Max did it. I am grateful to him for waking me up, and for having the physicians and nurses arrested on TV when they wanted their organizations represented at the table. At one point, after stopping them meeting three times as people stood up asking to sit at the table, he leaned over to Grassley and said: " Is their anyone sitting out there in this room who isn't for single payer?" Grassley, who was sharp enough to know that the microphone was probably picking up those words, signaled him to be quiet.
Eventually all the people were removed, taken outside and secured with plastic handcuffs which probably were made in China.
I also sent your editor a copy of my Health Reform poems out of respect for the kind of dialogue that is quite different in you part of the country. You guys elected Max and you guys can un-elect him if he messes up with health reform.
Heck the corporate welfare that went to subsidize insurers during the Bush years so they could "fairly" compete with Medicare (called the Medicare Advantage) comes to over $100 billion a year and a TRILLION over 10 years, and is sinking Medicare.
Does that number ring a bell? Guess how much getting universal coverage for most of 45 Million people cost and Health Reform costs over ten years: $100 billion per year, and a Trillion in 10 years.
There's a lot of low-hanging fruit like that. Some of those branches need to be trimmed before the weight brings down our Country's whole economy, and a bunch of unnecessary suffering and pre-mature deaths.
Maybe he's realized that cramming government down America's throat isn't working, and that there will be hell to pay in 2010 and 2012.
Comment By les holcomb, 7-28-09Yes, I agree. We have to watch what our congressmen vote for and against in these huge financial matters and human needs.
We need a couple new breeds of Populists and give them a try. Half of the ones we elect will be phonies saying anything to get elected, but the other half could be the real thing. We don't have much of the real thing right now in Congress. We have to start somewhere and 2010 and 2012 are not far off.
It's sad, because normally the older generation of leaders is more secure financially and are free to do things occasionally above their own personal, financial self-interest. But these guys in their sixties and seventies who hold the power of making decisions are still sloppin' at the trough all day. They are an embarrassment.
The 300 million of us now living are America's real treasures not a bunch of greedy, mismanaged, failing corporations with broken business models that badly need new boards of directors and managers, and have been paying stockholders with the money from our federal and state taxes as corporate welfare for the past 30 years.
All they talk about is "consumer confidence"-- which means our buying whatever they decide to produce, where ever they decide to produce it-- but not here! It's gone a heck of a lot farther than they think it has.
Fortunately, a few months ago, I gave up my credit cards, and cut back on everything. I had no idea that my job would ever go since I was bringing in six times what I cost, and trained younger managers how to do the same. Now some of these issues that I have been fighting for to help millions of younger unemployed people survive are important to me, personally.
Now I have to remember to follow my own advice. I'm not always good at that.
Yep, those mid-term congressional elections are getting closer and closer. I, too, look forward to them.
for Mike Mansfield
United States Senate
Office of the Majority Leader
Washington, D.C.
1 October 2009
Senator Max Baucus
United States Senate
Office of Greed and Denial
Washington, D.C.
Dear Senator Baucus;
It is of course difficult for me to write this letter from where I am, however when I look down upon you, and your peers it poses a difficult and mysterious dilemma that you all are facing.
Your choices are simple in my view, and of course, they are both win, win for you and your peers both Democrats and Republicans. Let us for a moment look at the choices you are confronted with, and there consequences.
1. You all have the choice to maintain your office with the PAC monies you are receiving from the health insurance industry. This will of course give you all a decided edge in maintaining your office and building your war chest for your next election cycle and you all will most certainly be engulfed in another maelstrom of legislation by then and the people will of course have accepted the deal you have made with the devil.
2. The other opportunity you all have is simple, and in my view the correct path to follow considering the office you have been privileged enough to be entrusted with by the people of your states as their representatives. These people have a right to be listened to they will either gain or suffer by the decisions you make on their behalf.
Currently a majority of the people in the United States of America are suffering. They are fighting two wars overseas (some of these men have been on the front lines for eight years. It so reminds me of Viet-Nam); they are fighting to maintain their homes, their jobs and most importantly their families.
Businesses in this country face difficult decisions because they cannot maintain their businesses because of the escalating cost of health insurance, and the workers are loosing their jobs and their health insurance at astronomical rates. Thousands of people in this great country are dieing every year because they do not have health insurance.
On the other hand Health Insurance Executives are receiving millions of dollars in compensation for making profits on the sick, the down trodden, and the widows and orphans of this land.
I hear you arguing with each other about this health reform bill, I hear you say “no way”,
“no public option”, no change to the hierarchy of the Insurance Companies who have led you into this despicable place.
The weight of this country should be on your back right now, each individual should be echoing the thought, and “we want the same insurance that you have”. That simple that easy, because the current system does not work, has never been fair to the people and it has not, nor will it change its attitude towards the working people of this nation.
In my opinion, Max and all the rest of your peers in the Senate and the House should give up the notion that PAC money will save you.
Do the right thing Max, lift Americans up and provide Health Insurance to everyone, no penalties, no taxes, just a simple premium for everyone with subsidies for those less fortunate than you.
Fulfill the expectations of the people and become the Statesman you should be.
From my grave, I have turned over to provide you with this simple lesson.
I am,
Mike Mansfield praying that you attain a higher level of leadership.
In your memory Mike because Max will not listen to the living,
I am,
Dennis Petrak