EMERSON TO ASK BUSH TO CONVENE ENERGY SUMMIT

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson will ask President-elect George W. Bush to convene an energy summit to address the high price of gasoline and other fuels.

Speaking from her Cape Girardeau office, Emerson said she was "putting the final touches" on a letter she plans to send to Bush after he takes office later this month.

"We have got to convene a summit of all stakeholders in the production and distribution of energy, that includes nuclear people, that includes natural gas, gasoline, oil. It includes hydropower people. It includes coal," she said.

Wind and solar power interests also should be included in the discussion, along with "the environmental community," Emerson said.

The Cape Girardeau Republican addressed the issue in a conference call to Southeast Missouri reporters Tuesday afternoon in which she discussed a wide range of issues.

She defended Bush's nomination of John Ashcroft for attorney general, said U.S. Rep. Jim Talent would be a good labor secretary and said she likely won't run for the U.S. Senate in 2002 despite Republican efforts to get her to run against Democratic Sen. Jean Carnahan.

On the energy issue, Emerson said the nation has to reduce its reliance on foreign sources of oil, and Emerson said Congress needs to consider opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil exploration and production.