The Montana Democrat, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 1978, also said he is working across the aisle to get things done. November's elections brought new faces and a slight Democratic tilt to the U.S. Congress, and Baucus said he must be pragmatic without compromising his principles as he works on legislation.
At a City Club and Missoula Kiwanis Club luncheon, Baucus likened the new Congress to a ship on a maiden - and sometimes tumultuous - journey.
Baucus supports an increase - but said he also worked on a way to make it easier for small businesses to pay higher wages. He created a tax relief package, which the Senate passed, and he said the House approved a similar bill that offered a little less relief.
The senator also said the Children's Health Insurance Program is his top health care priority. As the United States tries to become competitive in a global economy, it must offer strong education and health care.
“Our health care cost is just too high,” Baucus said, but citizens aren't healthier.
He supports a public-private model of universal coverage. During the talk, Baucus also touted renewable energy, education and tax relief for middle-income families.
He's working to strengthen Montana's economy, too. Baucus is organizing an economic summit in Butte on April 30 and May 1, and the speakers are heavy hitters. The list includes Bill Gates and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
In the typical City Club format, participants at the nonpartisan, nonprofit's forum quizzed Baucus after his talk.
Kathy Schulte told the senator her son is a University of Montana alumnus and Black Hawk helicopter pilot in Iraq. She shared her son's view on the war with Baucus: “It's time for us (troops) to come home.”
Baucus said he believes Congress must set a date for soldiers to depart, but lawmakers wouldn't cut funding in the meantime because the tactic would reduce the ability of troops to be effective. He told Schulte she should continue to lobby her son's cause by talking to members of Congress.
“You are 50 times more powerful than a person from California,” Baucus said, as far as access to U.S. senators goes. Montana senators answer to fewer people than California senators do - and Baucus said he likes his bosses.
Click here to listen to all of Sen. Max Baucus' prepared remarks before City Club Missoula and the Missoula Kiwanis Club.
Reporter Keila Szpaller can be reached at 523-5262 or at Keila.Szpaller@missoulian.com.
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