BAUCUS COMMENTS ON BUSH SPEECH

Senator Calls For Collaborative Approach To Health Care, Energy, Iraq

January 23, 2007

(Washington D.C.) -- After attending President Bush’s State of the Union Address tonight on Capitol Hill, Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus said he agreed with many of the themes in the speech, including the importance of health care and energy independence, but said the president’s approach to Iraq is misguided. Baucus is chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over many of the nation’s health care programs. In reaction to Bush’s proposals on health care, Baucus said he will examine them closely in the coming weeks and months.

“The President is right to recognize that we have to start reforming health care now,” Baucus said. “With one in five Montanans without health insurance, we have a big problem on our hands. To get off the ground, his proposals need to do two things: provide new health coverage to people who have none, and better coverage to those who don’t have enough. “We can’t just rearrange the chairs on the deck of our sinking health care system,” Baucus said. “And we can't be careless with the safety net on which millions of Americans currently rely. In the coming weeks I will move aggressively to renew and expand children’s health care coverage through the CHIP program, and I’ll explore pooling arrangements that may extend health coverage to even more Americans. Above all, I’m committed to working together to do what’s right for Montana’s health care needs.”

Baucus also welcomed President Bush’s statements on the need for America to be more energy independent, saying he will work as Finance Committee Chairman to pass tax incentives to spur renewable energy sources.

“I was glad to hear him talk about energy,” Baucus said. “We have to do more to wean ourselves off of foreign sources of energy. I want to see more domestic production, conservation, and a big push for renewable sources like wind and ethanol.”

Finally, Baucus said he respectfully disagrees with President Bush’s proposal to send more troops into Iraq, saying American troops have performed admirably but that it’s time to start bringing them home.

“I just think that’s a mistake,” Baucus said. “Throwing more combat troops at the problem is not the solution. The current strategy isn’t working. We need to shift toward a diplomatic solution, one that will bring our men and women home as soon as possible.”

Baucus also reiterated his commitment to working together with Sen. Jon Tester, Rep. Denny Rehberg, and Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer to move the state forward.

“It all comes down to working together,” Baucus said. “That’s my top priority: working together to do what’s right for Montana.”

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