EMERSON SEEKS BIPARTISANSHIP WITH `BLUE DOGS'

U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson believes "Blue Dog Democrats" and "Blue Dog Republicans" are barking up the same tree.

Emerson is one of the leaders of a newly formed group of 24 House Republicans who hope to transcend partisan political bickering and work with conservative Democrats to push the conservative agenda.

The top priority is to balance the federal budget within seven years, the Cape Girardeau Republican said in Washington Thursday.

The new group is the Mainstream Conservative Alliance. Its members have been referred to as Blue Dog Republicans. The name reflects the fact there is a Democratic group in the House called The Coalition, whose conservative lawmakers are known as Blue Dog Democrats.

Die-hard Democrats have been referred to as "Yellow Dog Democrats." Last year, conservative Democrats in the House complained that they had been whipped so much by liberals leaders in their party that they were turning blue.

If the conservative Republican and Democratic congressmen can agree on issues, they would form a solid bloc of about 50 votes that could have a major influence in the 435-member House.

"We believe there are a lot of issues that conservative Democrats will want to cooperate with us on, if a hand is simply held out to them," Emerson said.

"A lot of us are good friends across the aisle. There's already a good foundation of Republican to Democrat, friend to friend," said Emerson, who often car pools to the Capitol with Democratic Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri.

Emerson said the new GOP pack isn't at odds with House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

"As a matter of fact, the speaker himself has encouraged us to reach out to those conservative Democrats with whom we feel we can work," said Emerson.

Emerson and other Blue Dog Republicans said they are concerned that partisan politics is blocking progress toward solving the nation's problems.

"We do have a particularly partisan atmosphere in the House at this juncture in our history," said Emerson.

Democrats ran Congress for 40 years. Now Republicans are running things.

"The Republicans are feeling their oats and the Democrats are in denial," he said. The result: a lot of partisan politics.

Emerson said the goal of the alliance and its efforts to reach out to Blue Dog Democrats is to push a conservative agenda, not a Republican or Democratic one.

Rep. Pat Danner of Missouri is a member of the Democratic group.

Danner said many lawmakers have become dismayed at the partisan rancor.

Rep. Billy Tauzin of Louisiana, a Blue Dog Democrat who switched to the GOP this year, said the Mainstream Conservative Alliance wants a balanced budget in seven years, but believes how it is done is negotiable.

"We're not separating from the leadership. We are not the beginnings of a third party," Tauzin said. "I hope this is a signal we can rise above party."

The Associated Press provided some information for this story.