Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana has announced plans to retire at the end of his term in 2014. Baucus is the sixth Senate Democrat to bow out of next year’s midterms rather than seek re-election. As chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Baucus has developed a reputation as a key backer of powerful lobbyists on Capitol Hill. According to The New York Times, Baucus aides who went on to become lobbyists have helped financial firms save more than $11.2 billion in taxes. He was one of four Democratic senators to vote against background checks in last week’s defeat of new gun-control measures.