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Obama presidency may bring changes to Iowa Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Agri News staff writer
DES MOINES -- What will a Barack Obama presidency mean for rural Iowa? Two farm leaders and a political science professor said to expect some Iowans in top administration positions.
The Obama administration will be dealing with a serious economic crisis, and with Democrats in control of Congress and the White House, Iowa's delegation will work with the White House, said Steffen Schmidt, Iowa State University political science professor.
Given that Obama won Iowa's precinct caucuses and that he carried the state in the general election, there are likely to be Iowa Democrats in his administration.
"There has been all kinds of talk about who from Iowa may be picked," Schmidt said. "Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has been mentioned as U.S. Attorney General. Jackie Norris was his main Iowa coordinator. Her husband, John, is also a longtime Democratic activist."
Former U.S. Rep. Jim Leach, a moderate Republican who is knowledgeable about banking, campaigned for Obama and is likely to hold a significant position. Former Gov. Tom Vilsack has been mentioned to head the Department of Education or to be secretary of agriculture.
Gary Edwards, an Anamosa farmer and president of the Iowa Corn Growers Association, said McCain's opposition to ethanol and farm subsidies and his plans to do away with the market access program didn't help his efforts.
"I can't say that's why he lost, but I know it hurt his chances with a lot of farmers," Edwards said.
The ICGA worked well with the Clinton administration, and Edwards doesn't see any problems in working with the Obama administration.
Obama has said he wants to renegotiate NAFTA and CAFTA, and if the trade agreement is renegotiated, corn growers will work to make sure it is positive for agriculture, Edwards said.
"Now that the Democratic Party is in power, I expect more emphasis on the environment, and farmers are ready to meet that challenge," Edwards said. "The challenge is to see how agriculture plays out in policy and in people in the Obama administration," said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. "Everyone is watching to see who the secretary of agriculture and USDA leaders will be. The U.S. trade representative, the leader of the Department of Energy and the head of the Environmental Protection Agency will be important positions."
In addition to Vilsack, Lt. Gov. Patty Judge's name has come up as an ag secretary pick. So have Roger Johnson, North Dakota ag commissioner, Charlie Stenholm, a lobbyist and former Texas congressman, and National Farmers Union President Tom Buis.
Iowa's entire congressional delegation was re-elected, and it's beneficial to have that seniority, Northey said.
"We've got folks that understand agriculture and business," he said. "Senator Harkin's leadership as chair of the Senate ag committee is very important." |
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