Romney underlined his disdain for separation of church and state, and burnished his fundamentalist religious credentials, yesterday by offering fulsome praise for Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns, Bush’s new nominee for Secretary of Agriculture. "I extend my most sincere congratulations to Governor Johanns on his appointment as President Bush’s Secretary of Agriculture," Romney said, speaking as ViceChairman of the Republican Governor’s Association. "He is an experienced and dedicated publicservant who will be a fervent advocate for our nation’s farmers andtheir families," he added. Johanns has gained national noteriety for using state resources to promote fundamentalist Christians. In 1999, for example, he established "March for Jesus Day" in Nebraska. He also proclaimed "Back to the Bible" day for the state. Johanns has said he would sign similar proclamations for other religious groups, so long as they were not faiths "I personally don’t agree with" according to the Lincoln Journal Star.
