Conrad Decides to Remain As Senate Budget Committee Chairman

Current Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) has decided to remain in that position in the next Congress, turning down an opportunity to head the Agriculture Committee.

Current Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) has decided to remain in that position in the next Congress, turning down an opportunity to head the Agriculture Committee. The Ag chairmanship, which will become open in January as a result of the November defeat of current chairman Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), most likely will go to Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).

In announcing his decision, Conrad said that his conversations with his constituents in North Dakota and his colleagues in the Senate convinced him to stay on as Budget chairman.

"Even though we are about to write a new farm bill –– and chairing the Agriculture Committee would be something I would very much enjoy –– most everyone has concluded that I am in a very strong position to affect the outcome of the next farm bill by remaining a senior member of the Agriculture Committee and retaining the Chairmanship of the Budget Committee," Conrad said.

Conrad was able to play a major role in developing the 2008 farm bill while holding the same two positions that he will hold next year. It was from his seat on Agriculture that Conrad worked out a North-South coalition with House Ag Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), Senate ranking member Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Lincoln and others on that coalition, those members had the votes to get what they wanted.

Congressional sources say that staying at Budget also would allow Conrad to be a key player next year when a budget resolution and possible budget reconciliation unfold. Being Budget chairman also will be a particularly important position if the Agriculture panel is directed to reduce its budget.  

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