This weekend is the annual “Camp Baucus” fundraiser for Sen. Max Baucus’, D-Mont., leadership PAC in Montana. “Camp Baucus is a trip for the entire family; Bring everyone to enjoy Big Sky,” reads the invitation, using similar wording from last year’s bash.

Last year, however, with the health care reform debate at a fevered pitch, Baucus skipped the “Camp Baucus” fundraiser to stay in Washington, his aide said at the time, to work on health care reform, for which he was a key player.

Baucus’ Glacier PAC has collected $720,000 this election cycle, with insurance, lobbyists, health professionals, and pharmaceuticals/health products all among his top five donating industries, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Among the contributions that flowed into the PAC in the days close to the event were $5,000 from Motorola’s PAC (7/27/09) and $5,000 from the American Staffing Association’s PAC (07/29/09); both organizations were registered to lobby on health care reform at the time. While there is no large cluster of contributions dated near the event last year in Glacier PAC’s campaign finance reports, it is difficult to trace donations related to a particular event, as there is no federal requirement that this be reported.

The senator’s office did not return a call for comment.

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