Schafer Confirmed as Ag Secretary

In the audience during tonight s State of the Union address was former North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer Today his title became U-S Ag secretary as the U-S Senate confirmed Schafer s nomination Schafer was approved with no objections today in the full Senate after winning approval from the Senate Agriculture Committee Last Thursday Schafer fielded questions from the senators on that committee and later answered written questions they had submitted Today he was confirmed by unanimous consent in the Senate after members of North Dakota s congressional delegation asked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to expedite his case so the former governor could be a part of the President s cabinet for tonight s State of the Union address Sen Kent Conrad -D- ND The White House continues to maintain the President will veto this legislation which I think would be a mistake a mistake for the economy and certainly a mistake for North Dakota Sen Byron Dorgan -D- ND Family farmers are wondering what s this farm program going to be And we re getting near spring planting so we need to get this done The action today by unanimous consent to put Governor Schafer in that secretary chair is I think a big step forward Schafer was confirmed easily even though Congress and the administration have differing views over a pending five-year Farm Bill The bill passed with support of members of both parties but the President says it is too costly Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee asked Schafer to help get talks on the farm bill going again