Iowan Tom Dorr Confirmed for USDA Post
A former Iowa farmer, Tom Dorr, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become the Undersecretary for Rural Development, four years after his initial appointment in 2001.
The Senate voted 62-38 Wednesday to confirm Dorr as USDA’s
undersecretary for rural development. But the vote didn’t come until
Dorr delivered a written apology for past violations of federal subsidy
rules and remarks that have been criticized as racially insensitive.
In
Dorr’s letter, parts of which were read on the Senate floor, Dorr said
for the first time that his illegal subsidy claims were wrong: “I
regret that I did it.” He went on to say that he hoped other farmers would
learn from the mistake.
Dorr
had previously acknowledged that he structured his family’s farm
interests at Marcus, Ia., to avoid a cap on the subsidies that
individual producers can receive. However, he had steadfastly denied
any wrongdoing, although family trusts were forced to repay the
government $34,000.
Sen.
Tom Harkin, D-Ia., dropped a filibuster threat after the apology letter
made it clear that Republicans had the votes to win approval of Dorr.
CattleNetwork.com has Tom Harkin's statement on the confirmation:
“In
my 20 years in the Senate, I have never before opposed an Iowan for an
appointment, regardless of their political affiliation or
philosophy. But I cannot support this nominee.
“By
his own admission, Thomas Dorr set up his farm operations in a manner
which evaded the law and then knowingly misrepresented this arrangement
to the government.
“What
is worse, it appears that additional money—perhaps more than $70,000—is
still owed to USDA. Both Mr. Dorr and the Administration
consistently and steadfastly refuse to provide Congress with any
documentation to clear this very serious matter up.
“Today—after
four years of questioning and examination of this nomination—he finally
acknowledged and apologized for these actions. This eleventh hour
apology and public admission of wrong doing may be significant, but
that is not enough to reward him with a top job at USDA.”
The
national reports made it seem like 'incidental racial comments' were
the only reason the Senate opposed the nomination.
Nonsense. This nomination was opposed – and should have been
blocked – because someone running a “Rural Development” office had
purposely milked federal subsidy policy for an admitted $34,000 –
probably more.
When the
farmers who are out there earning a living do that – they get in
trouble. This GOP activist instead gets a promotion to a pretty
powerful job.
Voting
to confirm Dorr was a vote in favor of corruption – period. It
doesn't surprise me that the Senate Republicans lined up 55-0 to
support Dorr.
Blog For Iowa 
Sounds like the perfect Republican nominee to me – at least, he seems to have what most other recent Republican nominees have these days . . . a record of corruption. I think that's the way to earn your demerit badges in the Neo-GOP.
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