Johanns Chooses Personal Political Ambition Over Nebraska

Well for agriculture in Nebraska, the farm bill is our big game, and Mike Johanns decided to quit on us.  With the farm bill pending in Congress, Johanns walked away from his job as Secretary of Agriculture. 

Visual: Mike Johanns Decided to Quit on Us

Visual: Mike Johanns Walked Away as Agriculture Secretary

Source: Omaha World-Herald, 9/16/07; Reuters, 9/20/07

Abandoning his post just when he could do the most good for our farmers and ranchers so he can run for political office. 

Visual: Mike Johanns Abandoned NE Farmers & Ranchers

Source: Omaha World-Herald, 9/21/07

Quit when he could help NE Farmers and Ranchers.    Critics called Johanns a "serial quitter" for leaving his post as Agriculture Secretary months before the farm bill is completed, leaving the ultimate allocation of $286 billion of federal money up in the air. [ Omaha World-Herald, 9/21/07; Washington Post, 9/26/07]

Republicans Agree it's a Bad Time to Quit:

• Daub: Johanns Is Letting Down State's Farmers.  Former GOP Congressman Hal Daub said when asked to comment about Johanns' resignation, "I feel it's unfortunate that he has decided to quit his job as secretary of agriculture, a Cabinet post that could have been instrumental in securing the passage of a strong farm bill, legislation that is so desperately needed by our state's farmers, ranchers and agribusiness owners."  [ Omaha World-Herald, 9/21/07]

• Osborne: Johanns Leaving At "Critical Time."   Former GOP U.S. Rep. and Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne chastised Johanns for leaving his post as Secretary of Agriculture.  Osborne, who revealed that he had first turned down the Ag post because of dedication to his district, said, "This is a critical time for the farm bill, and some of the decisions I made in the past were based on trying to finish the job." [ AP, 10/3/07]

It shouldn't be a surprise.  Johanns has quit every office he's held to run for the next job.  City Councilman, quit.  Mayor, quit.  Governor, quit.

Visual: Mike Johanns Quit Every Office He's Held

Visual: City Councilman Quit

Source: Associated Press, 4/6/99

Visual: Mayor Quit

Source: Omaha World-Herald, 12/1/98

Visual: Governor Quit

Source: Heineman Press Release, 1/20/05

History of Quitting: Johanns hasn't fulfilled a commitment to Nebraskans in over 15 years.  [ Omaha Action 3 News , 9/20/07]

• 1991: Quit as City Councilman. Before his term was done, Johanns left the Lincoln city council when he became Mayor of Lincoln.  [AP, 4/6/99]

• 1998: Quit as Mayor.  Johanns left the Lincoln city council to serve as mayor in 1991.  He was reelected in 1995 but failed to finish out that term, leaving city residents behind to become Governor. Johanns also acknowledged that he spent years of his 2 nd Mayoral term campaigning for Governor, saying in 1998, " As I was out there 28 months ago many parts of the state had never heard of Mike Johanns, But that has kind of changed." [ Omaha World-Herald, 12/1/98, 1/28/98]

• 2005: Quit as Governor.  While still finishing out his second term as Governor of Nebraska, Johanns left the state to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.  [ Heineman Press Release, 1/20/05]

The farm bill isn't a game to Nebraskans.  It's part of our future.  And Mike Johanns is just walking off the field.

Visual: Mike Johanns Walking Out on the Farm Bill

Walking Out on the Farm Bill.   Johanns is leaving the Agriculture Department months before the completion of the farm bill.   Among his big initiatives yet to be completed are creating a nationwide animal-tracking system, originally embraced by the administration as a key safeguard against mad cow and other diseases, and reducing subsidies to wealthy farmers.  [ Omaha World-Herald, 9/16/07; Reuters, 9/20/07]