A Combat Over Agriculture Secretary Might Determine the Path of Starvation Coverage

An unlikely battle breaks out over the election of President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. as Secretary of Agriculture, who meets a powerful black lawmaker who wants the Department of Agriculture to focus the Department of Agriculture on hunger against traditionalists who believe the department has a voice for rural America should be .

Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, the highest-ranking black member of Congress and perhaps the most important supporter of Mr. Biden in the Democratic primary, advocates African American Marcia L. Fudge of Ohio Democrat from Ohio.

Mr Clyburn, whose approval from Mr Biden’s pre-South Carolina area code helped turn the tide for the former vice president’s nomination, spoke to him on the phone through Ms. Fudge just this week. Legislators have also stood up for her with two of the President-elect’s closest advisors and raised the matter with Spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi.

“I feel very strong,” said Clyburn on Wednesday in an interview with Ms. Fudge, who chairs the subcommittee on nutrition and oversight in the House Agriculture Committee.

“It is time for Democrats to treat the Department of Agriculture as the kind of department it claims to be,” he added, noting that much of the budget “is devoted to consumer issues and nutrition, as well as things that affect daily life affect people. “

But there are complications. Two allies of Mr. Biden’s farm state are also being discussed for the job: Heidi Heitkamp, ​​a former senator from North Dakota, and Tom Vilsack, the former governor of Iowa who served as Secretary of Agriculture for President Barack Obama.

The delicate proxy conflict over the post, usually not as sought after as high-profile cabinet positions, has led Democrats to stress issues like hunger and nutrition against more traditional party members who believe the division should represent rural America. The extensive agency oversees agricultural policy, forest service, food safety and animal health, but also the food stamp program, food services, rural housing and rural development.

In a broader sense, the debate shows the challenge that Mr Biden faces in setting up his administration. Any appointment he connects with others, and if he doesn’t pick a different candidate for one position, he becomes more likely to stand up for other positions.

The job in agriculture is specifically to pinch Mr Biden between two of his key campaign issues, which he repeated in simple terms in his victory speech this month: He owes a special debt to African American voters and wants to become president for all Americans, including those who who didn’t vote for him.

And nowhere did Mr. Biden fare worse than in rural America, especially in the most white parts of the farm belt.

“This is a decision only Joe Biden can make, and he will ensure that he understands the unique challenges of rural America and future developments in rural America,” said Ms. Heitkamp, ​​a moderate person who said in 2018 her service was defeated as attorney general and then senator in one of the most sparsely populated states in the country.

Ms. Heitkamp recalled her campaigning efforts on behalf of Mr. Biden’s “grand rural plan” and predicted that the president-elect “would choose the person who can implement this rural plan”.

However, Mr Clyburn said the Department of Agriculture had for too long “favored large agricultural interests over less affluent people,” whether they be “smallholders in Clarendon County, SC, or recipients of food stamps in Cleveland, Ohio,” Fudge’s hometown.

Mr. Clyburn did not mention Ms. Heitkamp, ​​but he reined in the prospect of Mr. Vilsack recapturing the department he had headed the Obama administration for all eight years.

“I don’t know why we have to recycle,” said Clyburn, repeating complaints that Biden is only Obama’s third term. “There’s a strong feeling that black farmers didn’t get a fair shake,” said Mr. Clyburn under Mr. Vilsack.

Mr Vilsack did not reply in kind. He said he had “all the respect in the world for Rep. Clyburn” and learned from him.

The former Iowa governor, who with his wife was an early supporter of Mr Biden in his first presidential campaign and also this year, said he hadn’t looked for the farming job but was careful not to interest in the position to refuse.

“If there is something I can do to help the country, fine,” said Vilsack. “But the president-elect makes that decision.”

If he does, he’ll know exactly where one of his most prominent supporters stands.

In addition to his conversations with Mr. Biden, Mr. Clyburn has contacted Steve Ricchetti, who will serve as an advisor to the White House, and Ted Kaufman, Mr. Biden’s longest-serving advisor and former chief of staff.

House Democratic leaders, given their small majority, are sensitive to job creation in the Chamber, even in safe districts like Mrs Fudge’s. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican, may not be planning a quick special election to replace her. But Mr Clyburn said he was hopeful from talking to Ms. Pelosi that she would “give the green light” to Ms. Fudge.

Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Ms. Pelosi, declined to comment on the discussion. He did signal, however, that the spokeswoman, who Ms. Fudge had appointed to chair a subcommittee two years ago to defuse a possible rivalry for the spokesperson, would not object to her departure.

“The speaker wants the House Democrats’ full contribution to the Biden Harris mandate and the future of the administration,” said Hammill.

As with other positions, the Department of Agriculture’s decision could be resolved by finding an alternative position elsewhere in the administration for anyone who is passed over.

A transition spokesman for Mr Biden declined to comment on the appointment, but said the president-elect “gave priority to diversity of ideology and background in building a team of experts that looks like America to play in his.” Administration to serve “.

Ms. Fudge, however, has other key advocates, including Senator Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio, who said he spoke out for her “with four or five top-biden transition people.” Your colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee also provided support.

“It is time for a hunger attorney to head the Department of Agriculture and no one could run the agency better than Marcia Fudge,” said Representative Filemon Vela, Democrat of Texas.

Most significant, however, are three Black House Democrats, who are close together, and Ms. Fudge. The group includes Mr. Clyburn, Representative Bennie Thompson from Mississippi, and Representative Cedric Richmond from Louisiana, who is leaving Congress to become a senior adviser to the White House.

As for Mr. Biden, Mr. Clyburn said, “He likes Fudge a lot.”

The congressman reported on his conversation with the president-elect and said he would let him make the decision. “I just told him that I thought she was a very good candidate and would help realign what the department is about.”

Comments are closed.