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NYT: Baucus the ‘Accidental Point Man’

By Beacon Staff

Major news outlets continue to line up to profile Montana Sen. Max Baucus, whose ranking has risen dramatically since taking the lead in the government’s push to overhaul the health care system. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/us/politics/24baucus.html?scp=2&sq=montana&st=cse" title="In Tuesday’s New York Times“>In Tuesday’s New York Times:

As President Obama’s effort to overhaul the health care system seems to hit one roadblock after another in Congress, he is counting on Senator Max Baucus, a political shape-shifter and crafty deal maker who is not fully trusted by either party, to help him clinch his top domestic priority.

Other Democratic lawmakers can claim more experience on health issues, or can boast of far more legislative achievements. But more than anyone else, Mr. Baucus, the Montana Democrat and centrist chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, may have the best shot at getting his committee’s measure passed into law.

The story repeats several points made in previous profiles of Baucus but is still worth a read.