Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMust-read expose on Max Baucus and how the Senate really operates
Tax Lobby Builds Ties to Chairman of Finance Panel
By ERIC LIPTON
WASHINGTON Restaurant chains like McDonalds want to keep their lucrative tax credit for hiring veterans. Altria, the tobacco giant, wants to cut the corporate tax rate. And Sapphire Energy, a small alternative energy company, is determined to protect a tax incentive it believes could turn algae into a popular motor fuel.
To make their case as Congress prepares to debate a rewrite of the nations tax code, this diverse set of businesses has at least one strategy in common: they have retained firms that employ lobbyists who are former aides to Max Baucus, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which will have a crucial role in shaping any legislation.
No other lawmaker on Capitol Hill has such a sizable constellation of former aides working as tax lobbyists, representing blue-chip clients that include telecommunications businesses, oil companies, retailers and financial firms, according to an analysis by LegiStorm, an online database that tracks Congressional staff members and lobbying. At least 28 aides who have worked for Mr. Baucus, Democrat of Montana, since he became the committee chairman in 2001 have lobbied on tax issues during the Obama administration more than any other current member of Congress, according to the analysis of lobbying filings performed for The New York Times.
K Street is literally littered with former Baucus staffers, said Jade West, an executive at a wholesalers trade association that relies on a former finance panel aide, Mary Burke Baker. It opens doors that allow you to make the case.
Like Ms. Baker, many of those lobbyists have already saved their clients millions in some cases, billions of dollars after Mr. Baucus backed their requests to extend certain corporate tax perks, provisions that were adopted as part of the so-called fiscal cliff legislation in January. Baucus aides who later became lobbyists helped financial firms save $11.2 billion in tax deferments and helped secure a $222 million tax benefit that is shared with the liquor industry.
By ERIC LIPTON
WASHINGTON Restaurant chains like McDonalds want to keep their lucrative tax credit for hiring veterans. Altria, the tobacco giant, wants to cut the corporate tax rate. And Sapphire Energy, a small alternative energy company, is determined to protect a tax incentive it believes could turn algae into a popular motor fuel.
To make their case as Congress prepares to debate a rewrite of the nations tax code, this diverse set of businesses has at least one strategy in common: they have retained firms that employ lobbyists who are former aides to Max Baucus, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which will have a crucial role in shaping any legislation.
No other lawmaker on Capitol Hill has such a sizable constellation of former aides working as tax lobbyists, representing blue-chip clients that include telecommunications businesses, oil companies, retailers and financial firms, according to an analysis by LegiStorm, an online database that tracks Congressional staff members and lobbying. At least 28 aides who have worked for Mr. Baucus, Democrat of Montana, since he became the committee chairman in 2001 have lobbied on tax issues during the Obama administration more than any other current member of Congress, according to the analysis of lobbying filings performed for The New York Times.
K Street is literally littered with former Baucus staffers, said Jade West, an executive at a wholesalers trade association that relies on a former finance panel aide, Mary Burke Baker. It opens doors that allow you to make the case.
Like Ms. Baker, many of those lobbyists have already saved their clients millions in some cases, billions of dollars after Mr. Baucus backed their requests to extend certain corporate tax perks, provisions that were adopted as part of the so-called fiscal cliff legislation in January. Baucus aides who later became lobbyists helped financial firms save $11.2 billion in tax deferments and helped secure a $222 million tax benefit that is shared with the liquor industry.
THE REST...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/07/us/politics/tax-lobby-builds-ties-to-max-baucus.html?hp&_r=1&&pagewanted=print
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
5 replies, 1330 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (16)
ReplyReply to this post
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Must-read expose on Max Baucus and how the Senate really operates (Original Post)
ProfessionalLeftist
Apr 2013
OP
The corrupt and self serving nature of the Blue Dogs and Third Way money changers is what is
Bluenorthwest
Apr 2013
#2
Warpy
(111,252 posts)1. I've wanted him OUT since his religious shenanigans
during the ACA passage. He will be no loss, especially if the state party finds a strong candidate to contest his seat in the primary.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)2. The corrupt and self serving nature of the Blue Dogs and Third Way money changers is what is
destroying the Democratic Party.
ProfessionalLeftist
(4,982 posts)3. Baucus and other DLC/BlueDogs ought not be allowed...
...to even call themselves "Democrats".
Octafish
(55,745 posts)4. Rule #1: Grab All You Can, Whenever You Can.
Rule #2: To Get Along, You Gotta Go Along.
We the People are out of the Rule business.
kairos12
(12,857 posts)5. Exactly why the French invented the National Razor