As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Max Baucus-- and those close to him-- will hold the reins in the upcoming tax code debate. (Photo: Getty Images)
Apr 07, 2013
As Congress members prepare a rewrite of the nation's tax code, the New York Timesreports Saturday that tax-evading corporations are taking advantage of the endless revolving door between government and big business by beefing up their arsenal of former aides turned lobbyists to ensure their profit-protecting loopholes remain intact.
Highlighting the connection between Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mt.)--who plays a "crucial role" in the upcoming debate--and big businesses like McDonald's, Altria, Sapphire Energy, the NRA, and liquor industry giant Beam, the Times reports that at least 28 of Baucus' former aids have lobbied on tax issues during the Obama administration, more than any other current member of Congress.
They write:
[M]any 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.
Writing about the endless revolving door between civil servitude and the "greener pastures" of million dollar lobbying salaries, Bill Moyers and Michael Winship note, "It's a wonder all of Washington doesn't lie prostrate in the streets, overcome by vertigo from all the spinning back and forth."
According to their reporting, Baucus' staff is already hosting meetings with industry lobbyists, academics and outside parties to "get advice on the tax package that the Senate Finance Committee is trying to create."
You can read the rest of the story here.
_____________________
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Lauren McCauley
Lauren McCauley is a former senior editor for Common Dreams covering national and international politics and progressive news. She is now the Editor of Maine Morning Star. Lauren also helped produce a number of documentary films, including the award-winning Soundtrack for a Revolution and The Hollywood Complex, as well as one currently in production about civil rights icon James Meredith. Her writing has been featured on Newsweek, BillMoyers.com, TruthDig, Truthout, In These Times, and Extra! the newsletter of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. She currently lives in Kennebunk, Maine with her husband, two children, a dog, and several chickens.
As Congress members prepare a rewrite of the nation's tax code, the New York Timesreports Saturday that tax-evading corporations are taking advantage of the endless revolving door between government and big business by beefing up their arsenal of former aides turned lobbyists to ensure their profit-protecting loopholes remain intact.
Highlighting the connection between Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mt.)--who plays a "crucial role" in the upcoming debate--and big businesses like McDonald's, Altria, Sapphire Energy, the NRA, and liquor industry giant Beam, the Times reports that at least 28 of Baucus' former aids have lobbied on tax issues during the Obama administration, more than any other current member of Congress.
They write:
[M]any 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.
Writing about the endless revolving door between civil servitude and the "greener pastures" of million dollar lobbying salaries, Bill Moyers and Michael Winship note, "It's a wonder all of Washington doesn't lie prostrate in the streets, overcome by vertigo from all the spinning back and forth."
According to their reporting, Baucus' staff is already hosting meetings with industry lobbyists, academics and outside parties to "get advice on the tax package that the Senate Finance Committee is trying to create."
You can read the rest of the story here.
_____________________
Lauren McCauley
Lauren McCauley is a former senior editor for Common Dreams covering national and international politics and progressive news. She is now the Editor of Maine Morning Star. Lauren also helped produce a number of documentary films, including the award-winning Soundtrack for a Revolution and The Hollywood Complex, as well as one currently in production about civil rights icon James Meredith. Her writing has been featured on Newsweek, BillMoyers.com, TruthDig, Truthout, In These Times, and Extra! the newsletter of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. She currently lives in Kennebunk, Maine with her husband, two children, a dog, and several chickens.
As Congress members prepare a rewrite of the nation's tax code, the New York Timesreports Saturday that tax-evading corporations are taking advantage of the endless revolving door between government and big business by beefing up their arsenal of former aides turned lobbyists to ensure their profit-protecting loopholes remain intact.
Highlighting the connection between Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mt.)--who plays a "crucial role" in the upcoming debate--and big businesses like McDonald's, Altria, Sapphire Energy, the NRA, and liquor industry giant Beam, the Times reports that at least 28 of Baucus' former aids have lobbied on tax issues during the Obama administration, more than any other current member of Congress.
They write:
[M]any 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.
Writing about the endless revolving door between civil servitude and the "greener pastures" of million dollar lobbying salaries, Bill Moyers and Michael Winship note, "It's a wonder all of Washington doesn't lie prostrate in the streets, overcome by vertigo from all the spinning back and forth."
According to their reporting, Baucus' staff is already hosting meetings with industry lobbyists, academics and outside parties to "get advice on the tax package that the Senate Finance Committee is trying to create."
You can read the rest of the story here.
_____________________
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.