WASHINGTON, D.C. Eighth District Congressman Bill Emerson, who officially began his seventh term in Congress Tuesday, talked Wednesday about the social welfare and economic future of the country.

In a teleconference from his Washington D.C. office, Emerson was optimistic about the incoming Democratic administration and welfare reforms.

"From what I've heard (President-elect Bill) Clinton say about the need for welfare reform, I have no reservations at all to believe that he will give it a high priority in his administration," Emerson said. "But Clinton must keep in mind that the issue carries with it housing, nutrition and job training implications."

But the congressman warns that Clinton might be surprised by his reception from Congress.

"Clinton is a centrist; in Congress, the liberal Democrats far outnumber the conservative Democrats," Emerson said. "He will find that a majority of Congress is far more liberal than he might have thought."

Emerson, who retained his seats on the House Agriculture and Public Works and Transportation Committees, feels that his committees will play a significant role in the new administration.

"There are components of welfare reform that come through agricultural reform," Emerson said. "They are intertwined, and benefit from one another's growth."

Emerson was enthusiastic about Clinton's nomination as head of the agriculture department, Mike Epsey. Emerson worked with Epsey, a congressman from Mississippi, on the Delta Commission, and has the highest regard for his former colleague.

Incidently, Clinton also served as chairman of the Delta Commission.

"(Epsey) has a broad and deep understanding of agriculture and will bring needed emphasis to rural development and poverty issues," Emerson said.

"I have full confidence in Epsey's abilities," Emerson said. "He is very good; perhaps the best cabinet choice Clinton has made.

"Epsey is the right man, in the right place at the right time," Emerson said.

Emerson was irate over the House awarding voting rights to representatives of the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories.

"I think it's a travesty," Emerson fumed. "Only the states should have the right to vote and to have representatives in Congress.

"If those territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the Virgin Islands) want to become states, they can go through the same process that everyone else did to be admitted to the union," Emerson said.

He said that if the District of Columbia wanted to have a say in government, that it should consider rejoining Maryland's territory, because, "this needs to be a federal district, immune from local and state politics."

Emerson does not see the election of a Democratic president a setback to the Republican party.

"It is now our duty to be the loyal and responsible opposition in government," Emerson said. "We will give (the Democrats) support where they are meritorious and be there to oppose and question what we feel is wrong."

The congressman feels that the country is primarily conservative, but that the conservative nominee for president simply did not present a believable message to the American people.

"Clinton articulately and flawlessly sold his message to the American people," Emerson said. "Bush did not; that had nothing to do with the fundamental strength of the Republican party."