Max Baucus quotes:

The Social Security trust fund is in pretty good shape today and we should not embark upon risky, dangerous schemes which will, in fact, undermine Social Security, such as privatization.

In this ever-changing world, it's more important than ever that our top-notch military continues to receive the resources needed to serve and protect our country.

Privatizing Social Security will take dollars out of young folks' pockets.

The recovery of the Gulf Coast region will take years to complete.

Now is not the time to open the border to receive Canadian beef down to the United States.

Global overcapacity in steel production can no longer be ignored. Foreign governments' intervention in steel markets has had a devastating impact on the U.S. industry.

I believe strongly that the opportunity is here for us in America to finally have a healthcare system that we can really be proud of. But it's got to be one where everybody is involved. Everybody: consumers, employers, providers, health-insurance companies, everybody.

U.S. agricultural products, including safe, high-quality Montana beef, face unscientific trade restrictions in many important markets.

I'm inclined to vote for Roberts unless something else comes up. It's a close call.

Health reform is an essential part of restoring America's economy and maintaining our competitiveness.

Every American has a right to affordable, high-quality health care.

I think I can speak for every Senator, saying that he or she ran for the Senate because we want to help make this a better place; that is, we want to help our States and help America.

The Senate is a remarkable institution. It is unique. There is no other body, no other political body, no other democratic legislature in the world quite like the U.S. Senate.

You're entitled to Medicaid regardless of your income. Don't worry about your health care.

Fundamentally, legislation that is historic, that is comprehensive, that has a large number of senators supporting it is more durable.

I love challenges.

The administration's attempt to keep us from selling agricultural products to Cuba is an outrage. Cuba is not a threat. That is why we must do more to open Cuba - not less.

It is pretty hard to find the right result to a controversial issue.

Judge Roberts has assured me personally that he has a healthy respect for precedent and the hard-won rights of Americans.

Tax complexity itself is a kind of tax.

Tax reform is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

There are significant human rights abuses in China. In some areas, the situation is worse today than in the past. In other areas, there have been improvements. We will recognize the latter, and be critical of the former.

IRAs are intended for retirement.

I know the problem of obesity. I got to tell you, I think that's tepid. I just don't think the bully pulpit is going to be enough to sufficiently fight obesity. We're going to have to have incentives in here.

I just see a huge train wreck coming down. You and I have discussed this many times, and I don't see any results yet.

I really think it's extremely important for Americans to better understand China. And by better, I mean don't just read their lines. You've got to dig down to find out what's going on, and come over, see China.

If I were the president, I would be very concerned... and I would do what was reasonably necessary to find a way to get my people confirmed.

Sequestration is leverage that should not be given up easily.

We've got to stand up for ourselves. That is, draw some lines, make it clear that after a while we're not going to get bullied or pushed around because I think there's some in China who are tempted to try to push the United States around. They want to bully us.

I think I'm the luckiest guy in the world.