ELECTION 1992: U.S. CONGRESS; BILL EMERSON VS. THAD BULLOCK

~Correction: NOTE: MR. BULLOCK DECLINED THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE.

Just look outside, Southern Missourians are right now laying the foundation for the future. Successes in the past year alone bode very well for our region economically and could have direct spin-offs to improve the quality of life for most folks in our region.

Federal Highway Trust Fund

First and foremost is the Highway Law. I cannot say enough about how significant this one piece of domestic legislation actually is. For Missourians especially, we finally will be getting closer to our "fair share" when it comes to the Federal Highway Trust Fund.

When crafting the transportation measure, I worked with other "Donor State" lawmakers in correcting the funding formula so that the amount of gasoline tax dollars we send to the Federal Highway Trust Fund is more proportional to the amount of money returned to the State for road and bridge improvements. Similarly, I fought for more money to be released from the Trust Fund, so we could accelerate the upgrading and rebuilding of our transportation infrastructure.

The enacted Highway Law is already providing results. The Missouri Highway Department estimates nearly 7,800 jobs already have been created and forecasts 40,000 jobs by the conclusion of the six-year legislation. On our own roads and bridges, construction continues at an impressive rate so that sooner rather than later, Highways 60 and 63 will be four-lane thoroughfares better linking Southern Missouri to the nation's transportation network. Furthermore, Highways 67 & 412 are in much better position to be enhanced in the near future than they were under the old federal highway policy.

An improved transportation infrastructure, a diversified economy, and our central location in America are a promising combination -- now more than ever. Together, they are a powerful formula that, I believe, can equate into future jobs and economic growth. Business and industry must be able to move their goods and services easily and efficiently. With additions from the Highway Law and our burgeoning river ports, Southern Missouri has further opportunities to seize upon.

Opening foreign markets

I have also worked to open foreign markets for U.S. goods and services, and it is paying off. Take the Japanese beef market for example. Not too long age, Tokyo leaders would not trade with our beef producers. Now the Japanese have purchased over $1 billion in American beef. I am re-channeling my efforts so that Japan does the same with American rice and lifts that existing barrier. And this is just one trading partner.

Developing new markets

With the ever-changing developments in Easter Europe and the former Soviet Union, America has an important role in seeing that those emerging markets continue to grow. Those of us in Southern Missouri have an especially vested interest because, simply put, increased trade means jobs and economic growth for the United States and the Eighth District.

Talking about expanding markets, I am proud to have successfully worked with other corn-belt lawmakers on waiving the restrictions on ethanol in the Clean Air Act. By including ethanol-blended gasolines in the Clean Air Act, we are expanding the markets for American corn growers, helping agricultural-based economies in rural America, and decreasing our reliance on foreign oil. Furthermore, an expanding ethanol industry could translate into new jobs for corn-producing areas, like Southern Missouri.

These are but a few of the many initiatives that I continue to work on to better serve the folks of the Eighth District. With your support, I look forward to further voicing and fighting for the conservative, common-sense values of Southern Missouri in Congress.

Although space does not permit me to go into great detail, among ideas I look forward to advancing:

- Congressional Reform, with my recent appointment to a short-term task force to deal with the subject, I will review the modus operandi of Congress, legislative schedules, causes of political grid lock, and make positive recommendations for who our national legislature does its business;

- Budget Enforcement Tools which include the balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the line-item veto authority for the President;

- Tax Reform which promotes fairness, investment, and economic growth;

- Regulatory Reform which respects private property rights and reduces the burdens on small business;

- Education Reform with an end result of better teaching our children and training globally-competitive workers; and,

- Welfare Reform in order to restore the "safety net" concept for those who need benefits and make taxpayers of able-bodied recipients.

Poised for success

Southern Missouri is poised for continued success in the future. Given all of our evolving resources at home and abroad, we have all the ingredients for a pro-growth, pro-economic development recipe. Now it depends upon all of us working together, so as a region, the Eighth District can realize its full potential.