Iowa’s democrat Secretary of Agriculture is “overjoyed” at today’s power shift in the U-S Senate and she says Iowa farmers should be happy, too. It’s expected Iowa democrat Tom Harkin will become chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, which state ag chief Patty Judge says will bring a decidedly Midwest flavor back to the panel. Judge says Harkin will be a strong voice for Iowa producers on topics including ethanol, farmers’ rights and trade agreements.Judge says it’s hard to believe Iowa, which she calls the premiere agricultural state in the nation, hasn’t had one of its own control the Senate ag committee since 1910.Judge hopes Harkin can take over the reigns soon and use his new influence to benefit Iowa’s growing industry of corn-based ethanol fuel.It may be days, even weeks, before Harkin takes over the ag committee.Iowa Republican Party officials are already on the attack, saying Harkin “turned his back on farmers” by voting against President Bush’s tax cut.
