Sen. Max Baucus: A secure legacy

Sen. Max Baucus jolted the political world with his announcement that he is retiring at the end of his sixth term in the Senate in 2014.

He is, after all, the foundational figure of Montana politics after serving longer than any other person as a U.S. senator from the Treasure State, including the esteemed former Senate majority leader, Mike Mansfield.

No one expected Baucus to retire, partly because he had already launched his re-election campaign, complete with regular fundraising efforts over much of the last year. But is it a surprise?

At 71, the Democrat may just want to enjoy a peaceful retirement at his new home in Bozeman because, in his words, “there is life beyond Congress.” Or maybe there was something in the tea leaves that discouraged him about the next election cycle.

 For certain, no one can serve in Congress for nearly 40 years without winning faithful supporters along with bitter critics. Judging from his success in eight elections (two in the House), Baucus has been viewed favorably by most Montanans over the years, likely because of his leadership in some important matters.

First and foremost, perhaps, has been his record as a champion for public lands. He has been a force to be reckoned with in protecting the North Fork Flathead drainage from mining and drilling in Canada since the mid-1980s. More recently, he spearheaded legislation that cleared the way for the Montana Legacy Project, which conserved more than 310,000 acres of former Plum Creek Timber Co. lands for public access and traditional uses, rather than seeing those lands sold into private, “no trespassing” real estate.

On a more human level, for more than a decade, Baucus has led the way in getting federal assistance for asbestos victims in the Libby area. For that, many survivors will always be grateful to him.

But Baucus has also attracted plenty of barbs, from Democrats along with Republicans, particularly in the latter part of his career.

He was criticized for supporting former President George W. Bush’s tax cuts and for backing expanded Medicare prescription drug benefits. He also outraged many gun rights supporters when he backed the “Brady Bill” gun control measure in the 1990s.

But just last week, he may have atoned for that in the eyes of some when he voted against new gun control proposals, while irking people in his own party who supported the measures in the wake of Sandy Hook. Such unpredictability made Baucus a figure of scorn for some, but it also demonstrated a willingness to look beyond party labels.

Described as the “architect” of the deeply unpopular federal Affordable Care Act, Baucus will have a pretty big blemish on his legacy if that health-insurance program collapses. And he seems to recognize it, characterizing the implementation of the law as a “train wreck” just last week.

In any case, Baucus should be appreciated for his dedication to Montana and his genuine nature. “Max,” as he insisted regular folks address him, has been a well-known face in Montana communities during his long career.

He once walked 820 miles across the state, and he was also noted for the “work days” where he took on all sorts of jobs to make sure he stayed in touch with real Montana people. While politicians are often dismissed for resorting to gimmickry, putting on a hard hat and shaking some hands for media “photo ops,” that wasn’t the case with Baucus’s work days. He showed up to put in a full day of work, staying long after the photographers left. In 2009, Baucus spent eight hours working on the Kalispell bypass, shoveling dirt and operating a truck.

That’s just a reflection of the authenticity and accessibility the senator should be remembered for along with his other many accomplishments.

So thanks, Max. We didn’t always agree, not by any means, but we wish you well in a long and happy retirement.

Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Daily Inter Lake’s editorial board.