Agriculture and the Farm Bill

In naming him Agriculture secretary, Bush lauded Johanns' "deep commitment to a strong farm economy."

During his two terms as governor, Johanns led several international delegations encouraging agricultural production and trade. He also promoted the use of ethanol, an alternative fuel made from corn. His home state is one of the leading producers of corn.

When he stepped down as Agriculture secretary, Johanns listed his accomplishments as everything from preparing defenses for a virulent strain of avian influenza to creating an online source for nutrition advice, according to The Washington Post.

During Johanns' tenure the Department of Agriculture worked to open foreign markets to U.S. exports, especially after a mad cow disease case in the United States. Over a three-year period Agriculture more than doubled the number of acres in conservation initiatives, to 184 million.

Johanns supported Bush administration initiatives that were unpopular with legislators from farming states, including limiting farm subsidies for wealthy farmers.

The Department of Agriculture held 52 forums in 48 states to listen to farmers' and ranchers' opinions on the legislation. Johanns attended about 20 of those forums himself.

"The normal criticism of politicians is that they don't listen -- he went out and saw farmers. That added a lot of credibility to the positions [the administration] has taken on the farm bill," Ralph Grossi, president of the American Farmland Trust, told the Washington Post.

But after Johanns' resigned from the cabinet, with the farm bill stalled in Congress, the Post reported that "Johanns leaves behind a department uncertain over the future spending of $286 billion of federal money and allegations that he abandoned the legislation at a crucial juncture."

In 2008, Congress overrode the President's veto to pass its own version of the bill that included subsidies as well as increased spending on nutrition programs.

Johanns will seek a seat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, he said in an interview with WhoRunsGov.com. He plans to promote rural development, including improving infrastructure, health care and high-speed internet in rural areas.

Civil Liberties

A practicing Catholic, Johanns is socially conservative. As governor he vetoed legislation on real-estate reform because it contained a clause forbidding renters or sellers to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.

At the time, Johanns said, "My position on the issue of giving separate legal recognition to individuals on the basis of their personal sexual preference is long standing and clear. I oppose such efforts."

In 1999 Johanns drew criticism when he signed a proclamation declaring May 22 as "March for Jesus Day." In response to the criticism, the then-governor said he would sign similar legislation for other religious beliefs. "I wouldn't hesitate to sign a proclamation for the Jewish faith, Hinduism, whatever," he said, "so long as it doesn't require me to sign something I personally don't agree with."

As governor, Johanns also championed property tax relief, mental health reform, and state autonomy from federal control, according to abcnews.com.

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