EMERSON DISAPPOINTED BY BUDGET MEASURE VOTE

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson expressed disappointment Thursday with failure of the House to pass the balanced budget amendment, calling it "a sad day in legislative history."

Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, was in the majority Thursday in voting for approval of the measure. A constitutional amendment, however, requires a two-thirds majority. The question got 280 yes votes, 153 no votes. It needed 290 votes for passage.

"If the vote had been held two days ago, I believe it would have prevailed," said Emerson in a telephone interview from Washington after the vote. He noted that the "liberal leadership" of the House had worked hard in the 48 hours prior to the vote in order to stall its passage.

"There were 153 (representatives) who voted against it," the congressman said. "Look at who they are: (Democratic) committee chairmen, subcommittee chairmen, doctrinaire left-wingers and retiring members who won't have to face the voters."

Emerson predicted there would be a "very adverse reaction" to Thursday's vote by the American public. Depending on that reaction, the measure could come before the House again before adjournment this fall, he said.

"A day will come when it will pass, I feel certain of that," said Emerson, who has co-sponsored this measure since he was first elected to Congress in 1980.