Dems Ask: Is Katie Smith a Farmer?

The Rural Democratic Caucus wants to know where Governor Matt Blunt's new Department of Agriculture nominee stands on key issues before she's confirmed to lead the agency.

Blunt named 29-year-old Katie Smith of Platte City to the post last week, pending approval by the Missouri Senate.

State Rep. J.C. Kuessner, the Rural Democratic Caucus chairman, said the next agriculture director faces many challenges to restore the reputation and effectiveness of the department and should be thoroughly vetted.

“Given the department’s recent troubled history and the challenges ahead, it is appropriate to determine if the governor’s nominee is the right person for the job," Rep. Kuessner.

Specifically, rural Democrats want to know if Smith is a farmer, as required by state law, according to Rep. Kuessner.

Smith has spent most of her career working in the federal government, for Sens. Bond and Talent, as well as doing some work in the Department of Energy.

“Although the nominee grew up on a farm and has an impressive political resume, we so far have seen nothing to indicate that she is a working farmer as the law requires,” Kuessner said. “If that is the case, it would appear she does not meet the basic statutory qualification for the post.”

House Democrats also want Smith to detail her stands on agriculture issues, like concentrated animal feeding operations, the establishment of a national animal identification system, the future of tax incentives to promote biofuel production and the appropriate use of other tax breaks related to agriculture and agribusiness.