Few Objections to Ag Department Nominee

WASHINGTON -- Senators on Thursday urged President Bush' pick for agriculture secretary to work with farm-state lawmakers on the five-year farm bill that has stalled in talks between Congress and the administration.

If confirmed, former North Dakota Gov. Ed Schafer will become head of the Agriculture Department in the midst of contentious negotiations on the $286 billion bill passed by both the House and Senate last year.

Still, there were no objections and few tough questions from members of the Senate Agriculture Committee. North Dakota's three-man congressional delegation _ all Democrats _ introduced and enthusiastically endorsed the popular Republican.

"We are counting on your help in working out differences in order to enact a sound new farm bill," said Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, the Democratic chairman of the committee.

Bush nominated Schafer in October to replace former Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns, who left the agriculture post to run for the Senate. Former deputy secretary Charles Conner has served as acting secretary and is negotiating with Harkin and House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., on the bill.

At issue are tax provisions added to both versions of the bill that are intended to raise additional money for farm programs. The Bush administration says the bills use funding gimmicks and tax increases to supplement a farm economy that is already strong, and Conner has shown little willingness to negotiate on that point.

The White House also says neither bill does enough to limit payments to wealthy farmers, arguing that Congress should adapt an administration proposal that would ban subsidies to farmers whose gross income exceeds an average of $200,000 a year.

North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and a senior member of the agriculture panel, said Thursday that a group of senators is working on a new tax package intended to appease some of the administration's concerns. Conrad said the new tax provisions are non-controversial, but he would not provide details.

Schafer offered few specific views on farm policy or provisions in the pending bill. But he said he hopes he can smooth the differences.

"I hope as the new kid on the block I can come in with a fresh perspective," he said.

Conrad and the other members of the North Dakota delegation asked Harkin to move Schafer's confirmation quickly so he can attend Bush's State of the Union address on Monday as a member of his cabinet. Harkin said he would attempt to do so.