Perdue’s Confirmation Process Moving Again

The White House has submitted nomination paperwork for former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to head the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In his Senate ethics disclosure forms, Perdue stated that he would place his assets, which include part ownership of a grain merchandising company, into a blind trust.

The divestiture plan was disclosed in filings posted online over the weekend by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. Submitting the ethics filings is a key step toward possible confirmation. 

Perdue also said he would resign from positions with the National Grain and Feed Association, the Bipartisan Policy Center Governor’s Council and the Georgia Agribusiness Council.

The secretary of agriculture position is one of only two Cabinet positions not yet confirmed. Perdue has enjoyed strong support from agriculture groups, but the seven-week delay between nomination and submission of paperwork caused worry among supporters and gave activist organizations like the Environment Working Group additional time to focus on Perdue.

Sen. Pat Roberts, chairman of the Senate Ag Committee, has underscored the need to quickly install a new agriculture head.  “We will try to expedite it,” he said. “I know the ranking member would like to expedite it. We need somebody down at the department to be a true champion for the producer and farmers and ranchers.”

Sources: The Atlanta Journal-Constitutional, Reuters