Yes, it seems Senator Baucus definately believes in single-payer. A single industry paying him that is. The Healthcare industry and the Insurance firms have been lining up to pay him huge money the last couple of years. It is not hard to figure out just why:
As his committee has taken center stage in the battle over health-care reform, Chairman Baucus (D-Mont.) has emerged as a leading recipient of Senate campaign contributions from the hospitals, insurers and other medical interest groups hoping to shape the legislation to their advantage. Health-related companies and their employees gave Baucus's political committees nearly $1.5 million in 2007 and 2008, when he began holding hearings and making preparations for this year's reform debate.
Top health executives and lobbyists have continued to flock to the senator's often extravagant fundraising events in recent months. During a Senate break in late June, for example, Baucus held his 10th annual fly-fishing and golfing weekend in Big Sky, Mont., for a minimum donation of $2,500. Later this month comes "Camp Baucus," a "trip for the whole family" that adds horseback riding and hiking to the list of activities.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Wow, "Camp Baucus". That sounds like such an exciting place. Come and fish, swim, golf, do arts and crafts, and take lessons on being greedy and stabbing the American people in the back. Sounds like fun!!
Oh but Baucus was not alone in his party in seeing renewed interest from one particular industry:
Baucus's fundraising prowess underscores the enduring political strength of the health-care lobby, which led all other sectors in donations to federal candidates during the last election cycle and has shifted its giving to Democrats as the party has tightened its control of Congress.
The sector gave nearly $170 million to federal lawmakers in 2007 and 2008, with 54 percent going to Democrats, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks money in politics. The shift in parties was even more pronounced during the first three months of this year, when Democrats collected 60 percent of the $5.4 million donated by health-care companies and their employees, the data show.
So, does this mean that we can officially open "Camp Blue Dog" because you know that the bulk of that money went to Blue Dogs and other fence sitting "moderates" who just want to suck up Democrat activist money and vote with Corporate America. I can hear it now, "Camp Blue Dog", come fish, swim, play golf, shop, and learn how all those nosy Progressives in your party just need to shut the hell up, do what they are told and move to Canada if they get sick.
Of course Baucus with all his power stands out in the money race taking far more Big Corporate money than he takes in from his state:
But Baucus, a senator from a sparsely populated and conservative Western state who is serving his sixth term, stands out for the rising tide of health-care contributions to his campaign committee, Friends of Max Baucus, and his political-action committee, Glacier PAC. Baucus collected $3 million from the health and insurance sectors from 2003 to 2008, about 20 percent of the total, data show. Less than 10 percent of the money came from Montana.
Top out-of-state corporate contributors included Schering-Plough, New York Life Insurance, Amgen, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield; individual executives such as Richard T. Clark, chief executive and president of drugmaker Merck, have also made regular donations. Most of these companies, particularly major insurers, strongly oppose a public insurance option, which is favored by President Obama and top House Democrats but has not received support from Baucus's committee.
Some folks besides Baucus think it is wonderful at "Camp Baucus":
John Jonas, a Patton Boggs health-care lobbyist who has attended a Baucus fly-fishing event and other fundraisers, said the Montana senator is "key to getting anything done" when it comes to health-care legislation.
"This is not an overwhelmingly liberal Congress, and it's certainly not a liberal Senate," said Jonas, whose clients include Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer and Northwestern Mutual. "I think Max is uniquely situated to try to accomplish that, because he's more of a centrist and moderate Democrat than others are."
Others however, see the fundraising for what it sadly is:
Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist for the Public Citizen advocacy group, said the continued fundraising by Baucus during the health-care debate is "very troubling."
"He's doing all this fundraising right in the middle of this effort to mark up a bill," Holman said. "When you put these events close to matters concerning these lobbyists, clearly it's a signal. You are expected to show up with a check."
It is sad when reform is so direly needed in this country that Max Baucus chooses to behave this way. No wonder there is so much difficulty drafting real reforms. With this guy leading the charge for our party, I am getting pretty skeptical about our chances.
Congratulations Max Baucus, for being the Mitch McConnell of the Democratic Party:
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