EMERSON EYES NEW COMMITTEE POSITIONS

When Bill Emerson drew straws with six other freshman Republicans for seniority ranking on the House Agriculture Committee in 1981, he felt he had done well by drawing the second-highest ranking.

But 14 years later, that second -place pick will keep him from becoming chairman of the committee when Republicans assume majority control in the new Congress.

Only three of the seven freshmen on the committee in 1981 are still in Congress. But one of them is Pat Roberts of Kansas, who finished one better than Emerson in the draw. Roberts is in line to chair the panel.

Emerson will become senior Republican, and in that role will have first pick of the subcommittees to chair. Emerson also will run the committee when Roberts is absent.

Since Tuesday's election, Emerson has conferred with Roberts about how the committee should be organized and on a subcommittee realignment plan that should cut the number from six to three or four.

Emerson also serves on the House Public Works and Transportation Committee, where he likely will be the fourth-ranking Republican.

Currently, he serves on subcommittees that deal with highways and water resources, the latter having jurisdiction over rivers, levees and flood control projects.

The party is expected to adopt rules that will limit members to only one subcommittee chairmanship.

"The heavy work in the agriculture committee will be this year because we rewrite the farm law," Emerson said. "Therefore, I feel compelled to claim the number one subcommittee on agriculture."

But after the new farm law is passed, Emerson said he will have the option of trying to head a subcommittee under public works if he feels it is in the best interests of the 8th Congressional District.

Emerson predicted that Republicans will make massive changes in the organization of Congress, including many changes recommended by a Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress that met during 1993.

Emerson served on the panel of 12 senators and 12 representatives. He said the failure of Democratic leaders to act on the recommendations in 1994 was frustrating.

Because he served on the committee, Emerson will work with the GOP leadership on such goals as consolidating the jurisdiction of committees, cutting the number of subcommittees, and reducing committee staffs.

Many of the changes can be done through new House rules. Other recommendations, such as a two-year budget cycle, would take a concurrent resolution since it would involve the Senate.

Rules will be discussed at the Republican Party Conference Dec. 5-7. Rules will be approved when the new Congress convenes Jan. 4.

"Changes in Congress will be monumental and dramatic," predicted Emerson. "We will see very, very significant changes occur in the structure of and the way Congress does business."