Post

Inaugurations and confirmations

Inaugurations and confirmations are all the rage this month, as newly elected lawmakers and their newly appointed cabinet members and Agency Directors jump through the political hoops necessary before they are allowed to get on with the business of government. The pomp and circumstance of such events intrigues some, and bores others. I guess I fit somewhere in between.

The most entertaining of confirmation hearings to date, in my opinion, was the Senate Ag Committee’s confirmation hearing on Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns’ nomination to become the next Secretary of Agriculture. The Honorable Governor received much bipartisan praise prior to this hearing. From National Farmers Union to American Farm Bureau Federation; from R-Calf to National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the former Iowa farm boy could just as well have been wearing a halo, considering the praise and support garnered from “everyone.” We laughed in our newsroom that Johanns’ most negative press came in the form of support from the Nebraska Humane Society.

Governor Johanns was not the only one who received praise during his hearing. Outgoing Senate Ag Committee Chairman Thad Cochran, R-Miss, and incoming

Chairman Saxby Chambliss, R-GA, were also stars of the day. As a matter of fact, there was a great deal of praise flowing freely for nearly everyone in the room, from nearly everyone in the room.

A lot of talk during the Senate Ag Committee’s hearing centered on Japan and their continued ban of US beef. Montana Senator Max Baucus warned the ag secretary nominee that it would be a tough challenge to face, but one that he expects Johanns to address. Baucus, a Democrat from Big Sky Country, told Johanns, “I strongly urge you as much as possible and I strongly urge the President to take this one up directly, because otherwise it’s just going to languish. It’s just going to be a lot of talk. Talky, talky, talk. Talk, talk, talk, talk; and not a lot is going to happen.”

It is my humble opinion that this format served more as a soapbox for the ag committee members instead of an opportunity to question the President’s appointee. Most of the Senators’ questions were lengthier than the answers given by Johanns. (I know, because I timed some of them.) As a matter of fact, most of the questions for Johanns were not questions at all, but statements.

Senator Pat Roberts, R-KS, who also chairs the Intelligence Committee, is the unprecedented king of radio sound bytes. He told Johanns, “Farmers are looking for a bully pulpit champion to be the Secretary of Agriculture. I want all farmers across the country to know we now have a secretary who can sit on the wagon tongue and discuss things with our producers in any state and all throughout the nation.”

Overall, the senators sang the praises of Governor Johanns, and as expected, he received approval by the committee. His nomination is on its way to the Senate floor. The White House is hoping the Senate will vote on its nominees on January 20 when it returns for the presidential inaugural.

I make light of confirmations and inaugurations, when in fact, they are at the heart of this Democracy that makes me so proud to be an American. In a few short weeks, the relatively unknown Governor of Nebraska has risen to a position of great power in agriculture. If the Senate votes him in, he will never have the “hammer” that our elected Senators and U.S. Representatives wield, but he has the President’s ear, and if confirmed, will lead the agency that implements and regulates the Farm Bill and other programs that can help or hinder those of us in production agriculture.

I hope the Senate Ag Committee is right. I hope Governor Johanns does wear a halo. We’ll take all the help we can get.