Max Money

Senator Max Baucus took a lot of money from the health care industry over the past couple of years. A study by a couple of political watchdogs shows he also accepted quite a bit from lobbyists who work for health care companies and trade associations, collecting almost half a million dollars since 2007.

Among the biggest contributors: biotech company Amgen Inc., drug-industry lobbying group PhRMA, insurer Aetna Inc., and Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, according to the Center for Responsive Politics and the Sunlight Foundation.

Baucus, a Montana Democrat and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, wields a great deal of power moving President Obama's health reform plan forward. The legislation will affect a number of health care companies, including drugmakers, insurers, and hospitals. These businesses are spending millions on lobbying and made a number of donations to key lawmakers like Baucus.

From 2007 through the first half of this year, Baucus took $252,750 from the health industry. He also accepted an additional $200,899 from lobbyists who represent individual companies and trade groups.

A centrist, Baucus offered his plan last month and was lauded by some industry groups. His plan also left out one of the most controversial proposals favored by Congressional Democrats and Obama: creation of a public health care option to compete with private insurers. This week, Baucus voted against an amendment to his plan that would have added the public option, which is opposed by insurers and some health care providers.

Baucus received more money from the health industry and its lobbyists than any other Democrat, the study found. But he didn't receive the most of any politician. Senator John McCain got more than $900,000, but that includes contributions to his 2008 presidential campaign. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell received almost $514,000.

Rounding out the list of top Senate beneficiaries of health industry campaign contributions: Arlen Specter (D-Penn.), $225,528; Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), $187,758; Mark Udall (D-Colo.), $155,175; Mark Warner (D-Va.), $131,100; Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), $130,620; Mary Landrieu (D-La.), $102,800; Patty Murray (D-Wa.), $92,300; Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), $78,450; and Susan Collins (R-Maine), $69,216.