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Here's a very interesting profile of all of Senator Max Baucus' ties to the Health Care industry that just might be compromising his work as the leading figure crafting universal health care coverage:

If you're a long-time politico, you may have seen it coming: Standing between progressives and fundamental health care reform is a 30-year Senate veteran with a reputation cemented long ago as a deal-maker -- or less charitably, as a sellout. Montana's Max Baucus is exactly the sort of centrist often embraced by Washington insiders for "getting things done"--but whose record of acquiescing to special interests makes progressives cringe. As chairman of the Finance Committee he's weathered his share of controversies. There's no bypassing Baucus entirely. And he's enjoying his position at the nexus of the reform battle.

"It's a parade of lobbyists going in and out of that office every day," says a Senate aide. "Everyone involved has strong ties back to the industry. And anyone who understands Baucus' record understands that neither he nor his staffers want to make them unhappy."

The Washington Post detailed this effort in an article Monday detailing the tremendous resources being thrown into this legislation by the health industry via their lobbyists - many of whom have worked for Baucus:

Take a quick glance at the website Open Secrets and you can find over a half dozen insurance and pharmaceutical industry lobbyists who were once Baucus staffers.

* Roger Blauwet, Baucus' tax counsel, who now lobbies for Merck, Wyeth, and other pharmaceutical interests

* Jeff Forbes, Baucus' former chief of staff, who represents the interests of several pharmaceutical companies

* Scott Olsen, a one-time Baucus policy adviser, has been a lobbyist for Amgen since 2004.

* Melissa Wier, Baucus' former chief trade counsel, who lobbies for Assurant and Ace Limited insurance companies

Let's watch Max Baucus and put pressure on him to do the right thing...

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