Heard on the Hill: Honeymoon On Hold
When Republicans boycotted a Senate Finance Committee markup on three pending trade agreements, they also missed the fun.
Chairman Max Baucus (Mont.) and fiancee Melodee Hanes were scheduled to get married Saturday at the Sieben Ranch in Montana, and his colleagues used the scuttled markup as an opportunity to congratulate him.
“Mr. Chairman, congratulations. It’s too bad you’re going to have to cancel your honeymoon,” Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) said, referring to the Senate canceling its July Fourth recess this week.
“We’ll make it up,” Baucus said.
“Did you ever think that you were going to have us on your honeymoon with you?” Nelson quipped.
“My fiancee certainly didn’t,” Baucus responded. Ha!
Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) also added their congratulations.
“On behalf of every one of us here, we wish you all the best,” Kerry said. “We know you’re getting married this Saturday. That’s a happy, happy thing, and we’re happy for you.”
We are all happy, happy, happy for the newlyweds.
(Fun Sieben Ranch facts: Not only is the ranch run by Baucus’ brother, but it is also where Robert Redford filmed “A River Runs Through It.”)
Correction: July 6, 2011
The article incorrectly identified the Senator who congratulated Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on his wedding. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) is the Finance Committee member.