USDA Secretary Needs Farm Background - Key Senator (Grassley)

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration's choice for a new agriculture secretary should come from a farm state and even have ``dirt under the fingernails,'' and not be a White House staff worker, a key senator said on Tuesday.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley said during a telephone news conference that no one at the White House had direct farming experience. He backs U.S. farm trade negotiator Allen Johnson, a fellow Iowan, for the post.

``I don't know anybody at the White House that got their fingers dirty, even tending to the White House garden,'' Grassley told reporters.

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman resigned after four years on the job and is staying on until her replacement is found.

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/politics/politics-bush-cabinet-agriculture.html

[n2mark]

1. USDA Secretary

They all have dirt under their fingernails at the WH, just not from tending the land though.

[Hobarticus]

2. Brilliant idea, Chuck...usually Cabinet members should know WTF

they're talking about.

Then again, this is the Bush cabinet.

[Denver Socialist]

3. * should nominate all of his Repuke senators...

from Democratic states...

That way we can get our Senate back. Check and balances y'know.

Hawkeye-X

[rodeodance]

4. gee the Sec. of HHS should have a health background!!--tommy t. -are

you listening? Heard he was in Africa at an AIDS conference (few days later the budget for cut for the US Aids/Hiv program to Africa)