Rep. Emerson speaks on energy, terrorism at Cape Girardeau Lions club

There are enough Democratic lawmakers ready to vote in favor of opening the outer continental shelf to drilling that an energy bill that includes expanded exploration for oil should pass when Congress returns to work, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson said Wednesday.

In a talk to about 30 members the Cape Girardeau Lions Club, Emerson said the bipartisan compromise she favors would create incentives for exploitation of offshore oil fields, oil shale deposits in the Rocky Mountain states, expanded options for nuclear power and support for alternative energy sources. And while she personally supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the reality of Washington politics means that location will likely remain off limits to exploration, she said.

Emerson warned that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who Emerson said opposes any new drilling, could try to put a provision into the legislation giving power of final approval to the states where the drilling would take place.

Emerson credited the pressure minority Republicans have put on the Democratic majority for opening up the chance to pass the bill. "We started screaming and yelling about it because of outrageous and rising energy prices," she said.

In her talk, Emerson also reported that she recently attended a conference on Islam where "I learned a lot about the preconceived notions I had and my colleagues have."

For example, Emerson said, U.S. officials referring to the "War on Terror" create tension with Islamic countries, while the phrase "International Fight against Terrorism," has a much less antagonistic effect.

"One thing I learned is that words matter," she said.

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