Chair of Senate Finance Committee is a Good Seat for Fundraising

As with sugar to bees, health care legislation attracts lobbyists, and any new bill is sure to be packed with policy sweeteners that will affect the bottom line of health providers and insurers for years to come. They are generally not in favor of the public insurance option the President supports.

During the last election cycle, the health care lobby led all other sectors in contributions to federal candidates. By virtue of his position, Baucus is attracting many supporters in the check-writing community. One thing a federal official reelected five times knows well is the importance of fundraising and, as The Washington Post's Dan Eggen reported Tuesday, Sen. Baucus has enjoyed a particularly bountiful season.

Despite a gesture to avoid an appearance of influence bartering (by refusing contributions from health care political action committees but continuing to accept "donations" from industry lobbyists or corporate executives), Baucus had capacity subscriptions to his "10th annual fly-fishing and golfing weekend" in June, his "Eighth Annual Ski and Snowmobile Weekend" in Big Sky, Montana, and to a $10,000-a-table dinner at a D.C. hotel in February.

Interested donors have "Camp Baucus" coming up, an experience that includes horseback riding and hiking along with access to the chairman.