If you’re a long-time politico, you may have seen it coming: Standing between progressives and fundamental health care reform is a 30-year Senate veteran with a reputation cemented long ago as a deal-maker — or less charitably, as a sellout. Montana’s Max Baucus is exactly the sort of centrist often embraced by Washington insiders for “getting things done”–but whose record of acquiescing to special interests makes progressives cringe. As chairman of the Finance Committee he’s weathered his share of controversies. There’s no bypassing Baucus entirely. And he’s enjoying his position at the nexus of the reform battle.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=140994