Historic Tidbit:Max Baucus served Montana in Washington longer than anyone from the state. He surpassed Mike Mansfield, the beloved Majority Leader in 2009, after the completion of his 34th year in Congress. Mansfield had served in the House for ten years and the Senate for 24.
By Scott Crass
The winds of change are upon Montana. In major jolt to the political scene, Max Baucus, it’s longest serving Montanan in history, who has appeared on ballots in the land of “Gold and Silver” since age 31, jolted the state with a somewhat unexpected announcement. At 72, he announced plans to retire next year, creating the first truly open Senate seat in “Big Sky Country” since Mike Mansfield retired in 1976.
Why the caveat? Because some consider the seat that Baucus first won in 1978 to have been open. When he announced for the seat, it was on the heels of Lee Metcalf’s retirement announcement, which at the time made it an open seat. But incumbent Lee Metcalf died that January. Baucus lobbied for the appointment, but Governor Tom Judge gave it to Montana Supreme Court Justice Paul Hatfield. But Baucus kept running and had name recognition from representing half the state. He captured 65% against Hatfield and 56% in the general.
36 years later, Baucus had appeared to be moving full throttle ahead with his re-election bid despite so-so approvals. His approvals were near the danger zone, and his tenure and connection to K Street was likely to count against him. Despite a war-chest that would be intimidating, it’s likely that he did not want to risk going out with a loss.
Having won a House seat as a Watergate baby, Baucus became the first of two Democrats from that class to make it to the Senate (Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts joined him and South Dakotan Larry Pressler won a seat that year as a Republican). He attracted much attention and popularity by walking the entire 820 mile length of the date – no small accomplishment in Montana.
Baucus’ next two races were non-events, and Baucus in 1990 beat a sitting Lieutenant Governor with 68% (the man once awoke a visiting member of a Japanese delegation by throwing something at him).
By 1996, Montana Republicans were hoping their sweep in 1994 would extend to the state. They recruited popular Lieutenant Governor Denny Rehberg. He attacked Baucus for switching positions on a Balanced Budget Amendment and welfare reform, saying he’d “take three sides for every two sided issue.” Baucus was held below 50% but still won by 5%. He faced token opposition in his last two races but nonetheless spent $11 million (no small sum by Montana standards) against a perennial Republican candidate to capture 77%.
Early on, Baucus compiled a Montana-centric record. The Almanac of American Politics 1980 noted that he “returned home often –which with Montana’s airline schedules is not all that easy.” But beyond his approachable and mild-mannered exterior lies a chess player, one who is likely plotting his next mood during that interaction.
In his first two Senate terms, Baucus’ major accomplishment was a rewrite of the Clean Air Act, signed into law by George W. Bush. He ascended to the chairmanship of the Environment Committee. By his third term, he chaired a Trade subcommittee on Finance and was key in persuading Clinton to abandon an increase in grazing fees.
Much of the disillusionment about Baucus was from his own party in the latter part of his career. Baucus had a loved-not so beloved relationship with the left which started as he approached that tough ’96 race.
Health care reform is one area. Baucus raised eyebrows with his comments last week that he sees “a huge train wreck coming down,” which is all the more curious considering the tirelessly critical role Baucus played in advancing the bill. Many felt he could have done more to advance the public option. His record on guns, particularly his recent vote against the background check filibuster last week was another area.
Since 2001, Baucus has either been Chair or Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee. He was known as a willing collaborator with the panel’s top Republican, Chuck Grassley, another “Watergate baby.” The trust the pair had was enough to produce a final product for the Bush tax cuts and Medicare Part D, though some liberals complained bitterly at the time and Baucus had a notoriously acrimonious relationship with Tom Daschle. His relationship with Harry Reid has been better, though tax issues have strained that of late also.
Most recently, Baucus was poised to put his party in a bind again on reforming the tax code. But it was his opposition to gun control, which came to a head last week when he refused to support background checks, that really irked liberals, though for the most part, opposing gun control has been Baucus’ standing for his entire tenure (though he did back the “Brady Bill.”
Beyond guns, Baucus was fairly loyal to his party, rarely abandoning them on controversial votes. He backed abortion rights, rarely abandoned the party on controversial Judicial votes, and came out in favor of marriage equality before most of his colleagues from swing states, including Jon Tester.
Next column: After Baucus, what next?