EMERSON: SURPLUSES SHOULD PAY BACK SOCIAL SECURITY

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson favors placing any surplus funds from a balanced budget toward the government's $700 billion loan from the Social Security Administration.

Emerson said Tuesday: "Congress still has to put together its budget. We have from now until November to put all the pieces together, but we will have a balanced budget."

There has been a lot of talk about what to do with the surplus, the Cape Girardeau Republican told the Cape Girardeau Lions Club at the Holiday Inn.

"We still have a $5 trillion national debt," said Emerson. "If we take the surplus and start paying back Social Security, it will help pay down the national debt as well."

The Social Security debt is part of the $5 trillion national debt.

Emerson also touched on the five-year highway bill, the Iraq situation and the 2000 presidential election.

"I don't have the slightest idea of who will be the Republican presidential candidate," she told the group. "I just hope its not a retread. It's time for a new face."

Among names mentioned as possible candidates are U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft of Missouri and Texas Gov. George W. Bush, said Emerson.

Emerson, a member of the House Transportation Committee, said proposed House and Senate bills would give Missouri a higher return on its gasoline tax refunds.

Missouri currently receives 82 percent of its gasoline tax money for use on bridges and highways. The new proposals would return 94 percent, she said.

Emerson raised some concerns about the Iraq situation. She questioned the wisdom of taking action against Iraq.

"This is a serious situation," said Emerson. "I am reluctant to send American troops without knowing strategies."

Saddam Hussein has the facilities and capabilities to make strikes of his own, she said. Saddam has consistently refused to permit unrestricted U.N. inspections of his nation's weapons arsenals, which is at the heart of the current dispute.

Clinton went on national TV Tuesday to explain the rationale for possible military action. He said Saddam has a history of using weapons of mass destruction.

Lions Club members were reminded of the Southeast Missouri and Missouri State Lions conventions, both to be held in Cape Girardeau.

The district convention will be March 6-7 and the state convention May 1-3.