It’s about time.

Just last night on Change.gov, I sent in my hopes that the new administration would do its best to make our food and medicines safer — that it would beef up the FDA and USDA, at the very least enforce the Pure Food & Drug Act, and sponsor legislation to require better and more truthful labelling.

I can’t express how nice it is to learn it wasn’t necessary. I would’ve done it anyway, but, oh … I’m *so* happy at the prospect of an administration which will act in my interests!

Anyone’s who’s curious, go to Change.gov; up top along the menu bar, ‘American Moment’ will lead you to ‘Share Your Story,’ and ‘Share Your Vision.’

New Congress, new faces on ag committees:

The incoming Congress will have one new face that well-known to U.S. agriculture. Former Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns handily won his race for the Senate seat vacated in Nebraska by Sen. Chuck Hagel.

Some major changes could be in store for the Senate Agriculture Committee. There are rumors that Chairman Tom Harkin could lead the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee if Sen. Edward Kennedy, the current chairman, relinquishes the post. That could make Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D., Ark.) a potential successor as other Democrats with more seniority on the ag committee already chair other committees.

Meanwhile, the committee’s ranking Republican and former chairman, Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, faces a run-off race for his seat. Chambliss was within a few votes of garnering the 50% needed to win in Georgia. While his Democratic opponent, Jim Martin, garnered only 42% of the vote because 3% went to a third-party candidate. Martin will have President-elect Barack Obama helping in the run-off race on Dec. 2.

In another close race, Sen. Norm Coleman, a Republican who serves on the agriculture committee and who is noted for his work on food aid, faces a recount in the close race in Minnesota against Democratic challenger Al Franken.

Several House Agriculture Committee members lost their bids for re-election on Nov. 4. Democrats who will not be returning include: Reps. Nancy Boyda, Kan., Nick Lampson, Tex., and Tim Mahoney, Fla. Republicans who lost re-election bids include: Reps. Robin Hayes, N.C. who is the ranking Republican on the livestock subcommittee; Marilyn Musgrave, Colo.; Randy Kuhl, N.Y.; and Tim Wahlberg, Mich.

http://www.feedstuffs.com/ME2/.....5440BDC2B8

And won’t it be refreshing to have someone heading up food and drug safety who is actually concerned about the consumer rather than China or big industry.

http://www.pierceequipment.com/grinders.html

On the other hand, maybe I should view this as a sort of “Phbbbbbttttt~~~~!!!!!” statement on the election results . . . . . . . . .