EMERGENCY RESPONSE WINS EMERSON PRAISE

The end result of severe flooding along the Mississippi River will be that people around the country "will have an enhanced understanding of the importance of the river," 8th District U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson said Tuesday.

"This flood, as tragic as it is, will have its benefits: there will be a much fuller national appreciation of what rivers and tributaries mean to this country," said Emerson.

The congressman said people in all parts of the country will be affected by the flooding. Not only will products be unable to move along the rivers, but also the flooding will shut down some railroad traffic, he said. Some factories around the country may run out of raw materials because there is no way to get them delivered until waters recede, Emerson said.

"The river can be our best friend or worst enemy; it is now functioning as our worst enemy," Emerson said.

Emerson said he is pleased with relief efforts. He pointed out that the president has $300 million available to allocate under a formula for disaster relief. Eventually, though, Congress likely will have to allocate additional funding, he said.

"I do not believe there has been any foot-dragging here, said the Cape Girardeau Republican. "I commend the governor and president for being on top of this situation, and have every confidence they will continue to be," said Emerson.

It is too early to gauge the amount of damage done to agriculture by the flood, but Emerson said he anticipates the House Agriculture Committee will hold hearings later this week to begin determining damage and needs.

"We need time to make adequate assessments," said Emerson. "We need a full assessment of damages to determine what exactly needs to be done."

Emerson also said he agrees with U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt that the local share of flood-control projects for small towns like Ste. Genevieve needs to be revised. To complete a levee project like Ste. Genevieve needs, Emerson said the local share is more than the city can come up with.

The city is now represented by Gephardt, but was in Emerson's district prior to this year. Emerson recalled that in 1986, when a project was authorized for Ste. Genevieve, he was successful having the historical significance of the town used to determine the cost-to-benefit ratio in evaluating the project.

Discussing the president's tax plan, Emerson said he fears for the nation's economy if the plan passes. He said the plan passed the House by just six votes and needed the vice president to break a tie in the Senate. He said he believes the measure will have difficulty winning final approval unless there are major revisions during a conference committee that begins meeting this week.

"It is very `iffy' right now," said Emerson. "I would be most reluctant to predict the outcome. The plan is ill-conceived. The public really does want government downsized, and I don't know of anyone wanting to pay more taxes.

"The whole thing is cast as tax the rich" said Emerson. But he said that is a false impression. "Small business will bear 80 percent of the burden of this tax proposal, and I don't think anybody has figured that out yet except for small-business owners."

Emerson said he is still considering whether to run for the U.S. Senate seat next year being vacated by Sen. John Danforth.

"I have not come to a conclusion in my assessment process. ... This is political assessment time," said Emerson, who refused to outline a timetable. He suggested that by Labor Day he might have an announcement and said some were pressuring him to decide.

"I am not sure there is any magical timeframe," he said. The filing season doesn't even open until late January. I don't think it is a detriment to being late in announcing; campaigns go on too long."