
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 8, 1991                   TAG: 9103080399
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

SENATE CONFIRMS MADIGAN

The Senate, on a vote of 99-0, confirmed Madigan Edward Madigan as agriculture secretary on Thursday after heaping nothing but praise upon a longtime House colleague who cited the woes of America's dairy and wheat farmers as among the challenges of his new job.

Madigan, 55, an Illinois Republican, watched the vote on television in the office of Senate Republican Leader Bob Dole of Kansas. Senators presented him with a copy of the unanimous roll call, which missed only the name of absent Republican Strom Thurmond of South Carolina.

Eighteen years in Congress, including his current role as senior Republican on the House Agriculture Committee, and a gracious, compromising manner made Madigan's road to confirmation smooth.

Madigan will replace Clayton Yeutter, who is taking charge of the Republican National Committee.

He said the financial woes of dairy and wheat farmers would be among the top issues he faces at the Agriculture Department.

Madigan, after the Senate vote, said he would try to finish a department study on the dairy issue before it is technically due Aug. 1, "so a consensus can be built around its findings." Dairy prices have fallen 20 percent in the last six months.

On the wheat front, Madigan said he would push for more foreign sales. The government will give wheat farmers $2 billion in deficiency payments this year, compared to $500 million last year.

He said there was no reason for legislation to aid California farmers hurt by drought. "There are already in place a number of programs," he said, noting unemployment compensation for farm workers and loans offered with low interest.

by CNB