Emerson - Feds need power to fire

The federal government needs to hire and fire airport security workers nationwide, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson says.

Federalizing airport security won't work if the employees can't be fired for failing to do their jobs, Emerson said Thursday in a conference call with reporters. Congress could take up the airport security bill next week.

Emerson said she will vote to federalize airport security provided that the legislation doesn't put such workers in the same category as other federal employees.

"If somebody fails to do their job responsibly, they have to be fired," Emerson said.

The Cape Girardeau Republican said the White House and GOP House leaders are twisting her arm to vote against federalizing airport security. To do so could add thousands of people to the federal payroll, but she isn't worried about bigger government.

"The safety and security of every single American who might fly is far more important to me than whether we have more people working for the federal government," she said.

Emerson said she and others in Congress aren't getting their mail because of the anthrax scare.

She said constituents can contact her in other ways, either by telephoning her district offices or the Washington office or sending a fax or using electronic mail.