The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Jo Ann Emerson for Congress.

Emerson announced the business group's endorsement at a news conference in front of local business owners at The Crossroads shopping center in Cape Girardeau Friday afternoon.

The U.S. Chamber previously had backed her late husband, Bill Emerson, who served as 8th District congressman for 16 years.

Bill Emerson died in June of lung cancer. She is running as an independent candidate to succeed her late husband.

"I appreciate the chamber recognizing me as the candidate in this race for Congress who's been on the forefront all along with conservative, common-sense ideas that will move small businesses ahead, while creating jobs and sustaining economic growth for folks here at home."

Emerson, a Cape Girardeau Republican, is one of five candidates running for the 8th District seat this fall. Her main rival is Democrat Emily Firebaugh of Farmington.

Chris Keuleman, Firebaugh's campaign manager, said the chamber endorsement wasn't a surprise.

Keuleman said Emerson is a Washington, D.C., lobbyist who supports the agenda of House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

He said Firebaugh is a Missouri businesswoman who has met payrolls and balanced budgets for years.

"It is vital for us to send a representative to Congress who really understands the problems facing the working families in this district," Keuleman said.

In an official letter of endorsement, U.S. Chamber President Richard Lesher said Emerson garnered the group's backing because she supports the free-enterprise system.

Emerson said government regulations and taxes are stifling businesses and employees.

American workers spent more than half of this calendar year -- 185 days -- paying for government spending, taxes and regulations.

The U.S. Chamber estimates it costs the typical family of four more than $6,000 a year in federal regulations alone.

Emerson said she would work to lift costly and unnecessary regulations and reduce business taxes.

Government, she said, should work for small business, not against it.

Emerson said she would establish a small-business advisory council, if elected.

"This group will help bring Main Street and rural concerns, as well as day-to-day experiences, to the forefront, so together we can make the government run smarter, cleaner and more efficiently," she said.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation. It represents 215,000 businesses, 3,000 state and local chambers of commerce, 1,200 trade and professional associations and 76 American chambers abroad.

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce doesn't endorse candidates for federal office. The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce doesn't endorse any candidate.

But Elizabeth Knote, a local chamber member and businesswoman, said she believes many of the local chamber's members support Emerson over Firebaugh.

"We want government out of our lives. We are absolutely over regulated," said Knote, who runs a pest control business and has battled the rules and regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency for years.