BUSH CHOOSES FORMER NORTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR AS AGRICULTURE SECRETARY

President Bush has named former North Dakota Gov. Ed Schafer as Agriculture Secretary. If confirmed by the Senate, Schafer would succeed former Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns, who resigned Sept. 20 to run for the U.S. Senate seat of Chuck Hagel, who is retiring. Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner has been acting secretary since Johanns left office, and many assumed he would remain as acting secretary until the end of the Bush administration in light of the complicated debate unfolding over the 2007 Farm Bill.

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LEGISLATURE PUTS PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ON THE BALLOT