Sen. Obama wrote a strong letter to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today:

I am writing to express my serious concerns regarding recent reports that U.S. Department of Agriculture (”USDA”) employees are using federal resources to lobby against recently passed legislation. Specifically, news reports indicate that certain USDA Farm Services Agency employees have been circulating an e-mail encouraging their colleagues to contact members of Congress to oppose provisions in the House-passed Farm Bill. The targeted provisions would provide unjustly denied black farmers an opportunity to have their claims filed pursuant to the Pigford settlement reviewed on the merits.