1-23 NWR Sonny Perdue

1-23 NWR Sonny Perdue

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.

This is your Northwest report for Monday, January 23, I'm David Sparks and want to take a closer look at nominee for Sec. of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. "I'm interested in helping the country." That is the voice of former Georgia governor Sonny Perdue and we may be hearing that voice a lot more over the next few years given that he is the nominee to be the 31st Sec. of agriculture. Purdue was one of the first ag secretary prospects that Pres. Trump brought in to talk to about the post and that was back on November 30. Coming out of that meeting, he told reporters... "we talk about agriculture, productivity and meeting new trade deals to make sure that we can sell all the products we can grow around the world." Sonny Purdue was born in 1946 and earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Georgia, served in the Air Force, started several small businesses, served as Georgia governor from 2003 to 2011. After that he continued to run his ag related businesses... "Primarily in agricultural commodities, trading domestically and internationally." So he has a background that has several ag connections. His first cousin David Perdue currently serves in the US Senate which will need to confirm Purdue as the Sec. of Agriculture.

U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) issued the following statement on the successful effort to block a national monument designation in the Owyhee Canyonlands:

"The conclusion of the Obama Administration, without a national monument designation in the Owyhee Canyonlands, marks a long-awaited victory for the people of Eastern Oregon. The vast majority of ranchers, farmers, and local residents in the area made their voices heard in opposition to this proposal pushed by big-city corporate and special interests.

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