Grassley On USDA Deputy Secretary: ‘Whatever Her Name Is, I Have Read Some Things’ That Concern Me

Thinkprogress:


During a teleconference Tuesday with reporters, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), expressed "caution" about Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan. The Des Moines Register asked Grassley if he had any response to Obama's recent subcabinet appointments at the Agriculture Department. He responded by saying that he believed that most of the nominees where "well qualified" except for -- referring to Merrigan -- "the woman from Tufts":

GRASSLEY: I think everybody's well qualified to do what they're doing, and there's only one that I would raise a question about. And I probably shouldn't be raising a question except some things that I've read about where she's coming from, and I don't remember her name, but the woman from Tufts.

QUESTION: Kathleen Merrigan.
GRASSLEY: What's her name?
QUESTION: Kathleen Merrigan.
GRASSLEY: Yes. Whoever - whatever her name is, I've read some things that would make some caution -- cause me to be cautious about her, but I need to get acquainted with her because it's not fair just to read third-party points and know exactly where she's coming from.

Most recently, Merrigan headed the Agriculture, Food and Environment Program where she researched, among other things, sustainable development and policy implementation. Whatever part of Merrigan's resume that Grassley finds troubling, he's a bit late to the game. The Senate confirmed Merrigan on April 2.