Washington - Senator Kent Conrad released the following statement today following the announced resignation of Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns.
"I am a big believer in the adage that you always finish what you start. It is completely irresponsible for the Secretary of Agriculture to leave his post right in the middle of negotiations in Congress over the next Farm Bill.
"I have never agreed with Secretary Johanns and the Administration's Farm Bill proposal. Their plan undermines U.S. farm policy and guts the current bill. However, Secretary Johanns has a responsibility to America's farmers and ranchers. I would have thought the Secretary would have stayed at his post until the major responsibility of that post was completed."
President Bush today named Deputy Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner to serve as acting Agriculture secretary. Senator Conrad made the following statement on Mr. Connor:
"I have had a long, positive working relationship with Chuck Connor. He is very knowledgeable. He knows farm policy and is someone who will be respected in the negotiations on the Farm Bill. That's not to say I have always agreed with him. But I do respect him. He is a good man."
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Senator Conrad is the Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.
