Incoming Senate Finance Committee chair Max Baucus (D-MT) has announced the panel's Democratic members for the 110th Congress, as follows: CHAIR: Baucus, Rockefeller (WV), Conrad (ND), Bingaman (NM), Kerry (MA), Lincoln (AR), Wyden (OR), Schumer (NY), Stabenow (MI), Cantwell (WA), Salazar (CO). Notes on the Newbies:

• Stabenow -- was offered a seat on Finance in return for her agreement to step down from her current leadership post as conference secretary, which Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) will assume; she also gives her up Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee spot to take the Finance seat
• Cantwell -- some have speculated that Cantwell's choice reflects leadership interest in adding women to the panel; others believe that Baucus' sharing Cantwell's interest in an estate tax cut and other poilicy positions may have helped her bid
• Salazar -- the freshman Senator leapfrogs over some second-term colleagues, notably Sen. Carper (D-DE), who had expressed interest in joining Finance and represents a state with a nationally important financial sector; gives up his seat on Veterans Affairs