Ag chief leaves Cabinet to consider Senate run

WASHINGTON — President Bush announced the resignation Thursday of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and immediately offered support for his anticipated campaign for a Senate seat from Nebraska.

"If it's Mike's decision and Nebraska's choice, he would make an outstanding member of the United States Senate," President Bush said Thursday, while announcing that Johanns had resigned as head of the Agriculture Department.

Bush announced Johanns' departure at a Rose Garden ceremony. Deputy Agriculture Secretary Charles Conner has taken over as acting secretary.

Several state officials said Johanns, a former Republican governor of Nebraska, is expected to seek the Senate seat being vacated at the end of next year by Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel.

Johanns drew immediate criticism from congressional Democrats for leaving the Agriculture Department in the middle of negotiations on the farm bill. The politically popular legislation gives billions in aid to farmers and pays for nutrition programs. The current version expires Sept. 30.

"For the secretary to walk away in the middle of a farm bill borders on irresponsible," said Sen. Kent Conrad, a North Dakota Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee. His remarks were echoed by Democratic Sens. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Ben Nelson of Nebraska.

But most members praised his service. "I always found him pleasant to work with, and I was very impressed by how involved he was in this farm bill process," said Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, the committee's chairman.

House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson, D-Minn., said he doesn't think Johanns' departure will make a difference as Congress writes the bill.

"Chuck Conner has been running the show behind the scenes on the USDA's farm bill agenda, so not much will change now that he's been named acting secretary," Peterson said.