Hanes began working for Baucus in 2002 and served as his state director before leaving his office earlier this year to take a position in the U.S. Department of Justice. Recently, Baucus has been central to efforts to move comprehensive health care legislation through the Senate with a bill aimed at achieving Obama's goal of overhauling the nation's health care system to cover 48 million uninsured Americans. News of Hanes' nomination follows other recent revelations of romantic relationships by political leaders, including South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., and two-time Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards. The Montana Democrat and his former state office director Melodee Hanes started their relationship in the summer of 2008 after Baucus separated from his wife, Ty Matsdorf told The Associated Press late Friday. Matsdorf said Baucus and Hanes decided during the nomination process that she should withdraw her name because the couple wanted to live together in Washington, which they later did. Baucus and his ex-wife Wanda announced last April that they planned to divorce after 25 years of marriage, his second. In a joint statement, they said they had "parted ways amicably and with mutual respect." The Senate leader, who has been a major advocate of Democratic health care legislation, submitted six names to a third-party reviewer, who narrowed them down to Hanes and two others. Matsdorf said the senator sent the three names to the White House without ranking them for the selection of a nominee. Matsdorf declined to comment on why the senator was disclosing the circumstances surrounding the nomination only now. Matsdorf stated that Baucus' relationship with his girlfriend had no bearing on his decision. Elected to the Montana House in 1973 and to the U.S. House in 1974 and 1976, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1978 at age 36, and his current term extends until 2014. The Democrat has also been involved in other congressional battles: He played a key role in the 2003 legislation adding a prescription-drug benefit to the Medicare program and the enactment of President George W. Bush’s tax cuts in 2001. On Friday, Baucus opposed his party and supported a Republican effort to eliminate a long-term care insurance program designed to assist seniors and the disabled. Republicans argued that the new plan would burden the federal budget. Sanford faces possible impeachment following his affair with a woman in Argentina. Ensign, who admitted in June to having an affair with a former member of his campaign staff, has made it clear he intends to complete his second term. Edwards’ political career suffered when he admitted last year to having an affair with a videographer in 2006. This admission came just months after Edwards ended his second presidential bid. The senator has taken increasingly visible roles in Congress, sometimes willing to defy his Democratic Party on certain issues. He appears to hold the view that the state that sent him to the Senate for five terms is fundamentally conservative and its voters want someone willing to vote outside the party line. Baucus nominated Hanes for the U.S. attorney position in March. However, she later withdrew, stating she had been presented with other opportunities she couldn't refuse. "Mel is supremely qualified and she reached her current position based solely on her merit," Matsdorf said. "Senator Baucus recommended each of the three candidates based solely on qualifications and merit, knowing whoever the White House selected would serve Montana well," Matsdorf added. President Barack Obama eventually nominated Helena attorney Michael Cotter for the U.S. attorney position, which oversees prosecutors of all federal crimes committed in Montana and the state's seven Indian reservations. Cotter is awaiting confirmation. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Nike Air Max Baucus was romantically involved with a former staffer when he recommended her earlier this year to become the next U.S. attorney for Montana, a spokesman said.
Related thematic articles:
- All Of The Timberland Boots, I Love Timberland Boots
- Nike Dunks
- All Of The Nike Air Max, I Love Nike Air Max President
- All Of The U.S. Marines advance in southern Afghanistan, I Love U.S. Marines ad