OPPONENT SAYS EMERSON WAFFLES ON VOUCHER ISSUE

Democratic congressional candidate Tony Heckemeyer says U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson has flip flopped on the issue of school vouchers.

The Sikeston Democrat said his opponent has supported school voucher bills in Congress. Heckemeyer opposes school vouchers and said so again Thursday during a campaign stop in Cape Girardeau.

He cited her "yes" votes in Congress on three bills.

One would have allowed Americans to set up IRA accounts to be used for education expenses. The measure passed Congress, but was vetoed by President Clinton.

Another would have provided for up to $7 million in scholarships for low-income families in the Washington, D.C., area so that their children could attend the school of their choice. The provision was taken out of an appropriations measure before it was signed into law by the president.

A third measure would have allowed states with school-choice laws to use federal funds to promote school choice in poverty stricken areas. The measure was rejected by the House on a roll call vote.

Heckemeyer said those bills amounted to voucher measures.

But Emerson disagreed. "I have not been in favor of vouchers."

The Cape Girardeau Republican said the bill that most closely resembles a voucher was the one that was tailored for the Washington school system.

But Emerson said the Washington school system has been a disaster. It is the second or third highest recipient of federal education dollars amounting to about $9,335 annually.

Yet the school system has some of the worst test scores in the nation. Emerson said she voted for the measure because it would have allowed the most disadvantaged children in the nation to receive an education at a school best suited for their educational needs.

Emerson said the money that would have been appropriated for the scholarships was not education money earmarked for the public schools.

Emerson said she hasn't supported vouchers for Missouri schools out of concern that it would hurt the public school system in the state.

She said vouchers would shift tax dollars from the public schools to private schools.

Heckemeyer said Emerson has changed her tune on the issue.

"She is morphing to my position," Heckemeyer said.

"She wants to run a name-recognition race and nothing else," Heckemeyer said.