Taking a break from his work shift at the Plum Creek mill in Evergreen, U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., discussed priorities for his final 19 months in the Senate, a list that includes federal tax reform.

“It’s a big challenge ... in terms of national legislation, tax reform is really important,” said Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Baucus said he wants a simpler, more fair system.

He has been soliciting ideas from an advisory panel of 15 Montanans that includes Jane Karas, president of Flathead Valley Community College, and Chuck Roady, general manager for F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co. near Columbia Falls.

“When average working folks can’t even do their taxes without forking over 250 bucks just to get the job done, and small businesses are paying two-thirds more than big corporations to file, we know we’ve got a problem,” Baucus said in a recent press release elaborating on his approach.

“There has to be a simpler, more fair and smarter way for our tax code to work for working families, small businesses and our budget.

“The idea behind simplifying the tax code is that if we cut out corporate loopholes, we can cut tax rates and make the tax code simpler for everyone,” he added. “My job is to make sure Montana priorities are front and center as the debate moves forward, and I’ll be counting on all Montanans to send me their ideas so I can make sure Montana’s voice is heard.”

Recent national media stories indicate tax reform is a simmering controversial issue in Congress.

Kathy Weber, Baucus’ Montana press secretary, indicated Baucus is fully aware of that.

“Without the constraints of the campaign, he is going at this full steam,” she said.

Weber said Baucus, who as served in the Senate since 1979, has recently been holding meetings on tax reform with Rep. Dave Camp, a Republican from Michigan who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee.

Weber said these types of “joint sessions” on tax reform haven’t been held since the 1970s.

Baucus said he will also continue to work on hammering out problems associated with the controversial Affordable Care Act, which he played a key role in authoring.

“A lot of small businesses are really worried about the implementation” of the sweeping health care law, Baucus said.

Baucus said other major focuses will be in passing a longer-term Farm Bill, possibly four years, rather than doing frequent extensions of legislation, and securing a new transportation funding bill that meets the needs of Montana.

He also intends to shepherd his North Fork Protection Act through Congress before his term concludes at the end of 2014.

The bill would protect the North Fork from mining and oil and gas development as a promised response to the British Columbia provincial government doing the same north of the border.