Farm Bureau takes no position on Hagel; Stallman praises him
January 15, 2013 | 09:26 PM
NASHVILLE — Delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting did not take any position on Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s suggestion that farmers support the nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., as Defense secretary, but Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman did praise the nominee at a news conference here.
In a Monday speech to Farm Bureau, Vilsack said that farmers should support President President Barack Obama’s nomination of Hagel because Hagel would support the military’s use of renewable fuels.
Vilsack also said that farmers need to form broader alliances to convince Congress to pass a farm bill.
Asked by The Hagstrom Report today about Vilsack’s suggestion on Hagel, Stallman said that Farm Bureau does not have any official endorsement process for Cabinet members. But he added that Farm Bureau had had “a good working relationship” with Hagel, and that generally Farm Bureau believes that a president should have his choice of Cabinet officers.
Vilsack said he believes Hagel would support the use of renewable fuels in the military because he is from Nebraska and sensitive to that issue, but Stallman noted that he is “not sure” what position Hagel would take on renewable fuels in the military.
In a Monday speech to Farm Bureau, Vilsack said that farmers should support President President Barack Obama’s nomination of Hagel because Hagel would support the military’s use of renewable fuels.
Vilsack also said that farmers need to form broader alliances to convince Congress to pass a farm bill.
Asked by The Hagstrom Report today about Vilsack’s suggestion on Hagel, Stallman said that Farm Bureau does not have any official endorsement process for Cabinet members. But he added that Farm Bureau had had “a good working relationship” with Hagel, and that generally Farm Bureau believes that a president should have his choice of Cabinet officers.
Vilsack said he believes Hagel would support the use of renewable fuels in the military because he is from Nebraska and sensitive to that issue, but Stallman noted that he is “not sure” what position Hagel would take on renewable fuels in the military.
