January 28, 2008

ISSUE 1203

SCHAFER EXPECTED TO BE NEXT USDA CHIEF

Former North Dakota Gov. Ed Schafer, the nominee for the next U.S. secretary of agriculture, easily made it through his Senate Agriculture Committee confirmation hearing Jan. 24.

He is expected to be confirmed the week of Jan. 28 as the 29th secretary of agriculture.

Also at the hearing, North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad, a senior member of the Finance Committee, said senators are looking for a revenue package to pay for the new $286 billion farm bill and avoid a threatened veto by the president.