Max Baucus leaves a legacy to be proud of

In 2015, Montana will say welcome home to one of our state's greatest public servants, United States Sen. Max Baucus. Max, an avid runner, announced this week that he will be sitting out the 2014 senate race and instead retire after 36 years in the Senate.

As the longest-serving Senator in Montana history, Max's decision to sit out stunned everyone from Washington pundits to Main Street Montanans. It was even a surprise to those of us who have worked for him for years.

In his announcement, Max cautioned that he's not "turning out to pasture." There are important hurdles to clear over the next year and a half — from reforming our ridiculously complicated tax code to protecting Montana's rich outdoor heritage.

Through 2014, Max will continue to build on a political legacy unmatched by anyone else in Montana's history.

That legacy includes thousands of good-paying Montana jobs. A strong, vibrant small business economy. Access to quality, affordable health care. Safe, reliable highways that drive Montana's economy. Insurance for children. Responsible, common sense protections for our public land and water.

Through it all, Max has stayed true to Montana. He's never been afraid to make tough votes, because he knows serving Montana isn't about serving a political party. It's about serving people.

He went to the mat for the people of Libby poisoned by the W.R. Grace company. He saved Malmstrom Air Force base from closing. He helped tear down Milltown Dam and protect the Rocky Mountain Front. He's always stood by a woman's right to make her own health care decisions.

No good runner is afraid of an uphill battle. That's why, during George W. Bush's presidency, Max stopped the disastrous privatization of Social Security. More recently he led the pack in demanding the Obama administration begin a drawdown of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan. Last year, months before it became politically popular, Max endorsed equal marriage.

With Montana in mind, Max also crafted a bill reforming the health insurance industry and making health care available to all Montanans. The Affordable Care Act allows children to stay on their parents insurance until age 26, and prevents insurance companies from giving the boot to Americans with pre-existing conditions.

Unfortunately, obstructionism, partisan gridlock and polarization plague today's U.S. Senate. Congress needs more hard workers, coalition builders and principled negotiators. And it's very difficult to see level-headed moderates like Max leave the stage.

In January 2015, Max will come home for good to the state he loves, to be with the people he loves. In doing so, he'll cross the finish line one last time to take his place in history as one of Montana's finest statesmen.

(Barrett Kaiser was a top aide to U.S. Senator Max Baucus from 1999 to 2009, ending his tenure as Montana chief of staff. He is now a political consultant living in Billings.)