BACKER HAPPY WITH LEGISLATURE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Rep. Gracia Backer said she is happy with the accomplishments made during the Missouri Legislature's recent session.

Backer, D-New Bloomfield, is the House Majority Leader and was the guest at a reception and picnic for the Byrd Township Democratic Committee's Truman Day Saturday.

The 15-year-veteran of the Missouri Legislature said that although there was a battle over the recently passed partial-birth abortion bill, she felt it was a productive session.

"We had a productive session and did a lot that didn't make the front page headlines," she said. "Legislation dealing with the sales-tax reduction, the private pensioner-tax exemption, and full funding of the foundation formula for education were all passed."

Backer said legislature approved funding for two Missouri prisons. "That may not sound very good but we have 20,000 inmates in Missouri prisons and three times that many are out on parole."

The public is impatient with the legislative process, Backer said. "Sometimes the democratic process seems slow and complicated and cumbersome but things have to go through the process to be addressed."

She cited campaign finance reform as a major accomplishment. "Ninety-nine percent of us (legislators) are not into graft and corruption."

Although Backer said she was happy with most of the passed legislation, she was not pleased with the newly passed partial-birth abortion bill.

"People don't understand that partial-birth abortions are not third-trimester abortions. Those are illegal," she said. "They are done only upon medical advice for the mother's health."

Backer said she did not vote for the final version of the bill because it did not contain exceptions for the health of the mother.

During the session Backer said she heard testimony from women who had unusual medical situations during their pregnancies. She said exceptions for woman who are at risk medically should be allowed.

Backer said she is not for abortion. "I don't know anyone who is for abortion. I'm for preventing unwanted pregnancies." She said many times issues dealing with abortion are no-win situations between two sides.

Backer said she is now trying to take some vacation time to work on a new house and her golf game, but members of the Legislature are on call 24 hours a day.

"I'll go home and there will be 30 calls on my answering machine. People say they want less government, but government is the first to be called when something goes wrong."

Cris Edwards, secretary of the Byrd Township Democratic Committee, said the township is the oldest organized Democrat organization in the state.

Edwards said the Truman Day fund raiser normally draws more 150 Democrats from the area. She said she was pleased that Backer accepted the invitation to speak at the event.

"I made one call to her and she said yes; Rep. Backer is wonderful; she even returned the call herself."

During the picnic, which was held at Huber Hall in Jackson, a memorial tribute was given to the late Democratic Committee chair, LaCretia Drum, who died in April.