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A special commission sees biological warfare as a real threat to American security and a Missourian who is a leader of that commission worries the country isn’t taking the threat seriously.
Former Senator Jim Talent serves as vice chairman of the bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism, charged by Congress to assess the threat of WMDs being used against the United States.
Many of the political pundits believe this is going to be a bad November for Republicans at the ballot box. But former U.S. Senator Jim Talent says that is not necessarily the case – at least in the presidential contest.
Talent, who won a close contest against incumbent Senator Jean Carnahan in 2002, then lost another tight race to now-Senator Claire McCaskill in 2006, believes that while Democrats have an edge this year, Missourians will look carefully at the individual candidates in the presidential contest.
Talent believes his loss two years ago can be attributed, at least in part, to anti-Bush sentiment and people wanting to send a message to the White House. He says with President Bush leaving, that will probably not be the case this year because it will be difficult to link Bush with Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
There were a few questions about farm policy, but the past became the present interest in confirmation hearings of State Agriculture Director-designate Katie Smith before a Senate committee. Smith has been nominated by Governor Blunt to be the next Agriculture Director, taking the position held by Fred Ferrell until a complaint of sexual harassment forced Ferrell out.
The committee unanimously recommends that the full Senate confirm here, but not until the top Democrat in the Senate questioned her qualifications and insinuated that Governor Blunt chose Smith, based more on her gender than her qualifications. Senate Minority Leader, Maida Coleman (D-St. Louis), has asked Smith whether the governor appointed her for her qualifications or because he believed nominating a woman would distract from the sexual harassment lawsuit still pending in Cole County Circuit Court. Coleman also has questioned whether Smith meets the requirement that the Agriculture Director actually be a farmer.
Smith has maintained that the governor appointed her on her qualifications. She grew up on the family farm near Platte City and received a degree in Agriculture-Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Much of her experience has been in Washington, where Smith served both Senator Bond and former Senator Talent as well as northwest Missouri Congressman Sam Graves. As the top agricultural advisor to Senator Talent, Smith helped craft the 2002 Farm Bill. Smith says she remains engaged in the family farm, advising her father on how best to manage it and says she helps out whenever she visits there.
Coleman hasn’t been impressed and states simply, "You are not a farmer."
Senate President Pro Tem, Michael Gibbons (R-Kirkwood), acknowledges the tainted reputation of the State Agriculture Department. He tells Smith, "I think it’s pretty clear from this hearing that you are going into this position with a multitude of challenges." Gibbons adds that the proof will be in Smith’s performance.
Governor Blunt has appointed the first woman State Agriculture Director and denies he sought a woman for the post to offset the fall-out from how the previous Agriculture Director left.
Blunt has announced that Katie Smith of Platte City is his choice to replace Fred Ferrell, the Agriculture Director who resigned in February amid sexual harassment allegations. Democrats harshly criticized Blunt for not acting sooner against Ferrell. Blunt denies he placed a premium on finding a woman for the position to quell the criticism. Blunt says he considered a lot of good men and women for the position and became convinced that Smith is the best person to lead the department at a critical time.
Smith must be confirmed by the Senate before she replaces Ferrell. She promises to value every employee at the Department, stating that she has been fortunate to be in situations in which supervisors empowered employees. Smith says that is an environment she hopes to create at the Agriculture Department.
Smith was raised on a farm in northwest Missouri, near Platte City. She earned an agriculture journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has worked for both Senator Talent and Senator Bond as well as northwest Missouri Congressman Sam Graves. Talent, Bond and Graves are all Republicans, as is Governor Blunt. Smith served for four years as the chief policy advisor on agriculture issues for Senator Talent.
Smith has also worked for the United States Department of Agriculture and the federal Department of Energy. Smith, 29, recently moved back to Missouri with her husband Christopher and their daughter, Mary Agnes.
Deputy Agriculture Director Matt Boatright has been serving as Acting Agriculture Director. Boatright will return to his role as Deputy Director upon Smith’s confirmation.
Smith’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Governor Blunt today named a former agriculture advisor for Senator Talent as the new director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Blunt has named Katie Smith as director to replace Agriculture Director Fred Ferrell who resigned in disgrace after an Agriculture Department employee filed a sexual harassment case against him.
In naming Smith to the role, Blunt has appointed the first woman to serve as State Agriculture Director. The department was created in 1933. Smith was raised on a farm in northwest Missouri, near Platte City. She earned an agriculture journalism degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has worked for both Senator Talent and Senator Bond as well as northwest Missouri Congressman Sam Graves. All Republicans, as is Governor Blunt. Smith served for four years as the chief policy advisor on agriculture issues for Senator Talent.
Smith has also worked for the United States Department of Agriculture and the federal Department of Energy. Smith, 29, recently moved back to Missouri with her husband Christopher and their daughter, Mary Agnes.
Deputy Agriculture Director Matt Boatright has been serving as Acting Agriculture Director. Boatright will return to his role as Deputy Director upon Smith’s confirmation.
Smith’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
