New House GOP leader is 'a fighter,' colleague says

JEFFERSON CITY -- Jason Crowell is afraid of heights, but he loves to jump out of airplanes.

Next month, the Cape Girardeau Republican will find himself jumping from a new and different height. Republicans have nominated Crowell as the House majority floor leader. In this post, he'll be like a quarterback for the GOP agenda. He might not call the plays, but he must execute them, line up debaters and figure out ways around defensive formations.

Crowell has served only one term in the House, and that was as part of the minority party. But term limits mean many veteran lawmakers are gone, so relative newcomers are taking on leadership roles.

"I have a tremendous fear of failure, but I continually put myself in a position where I can fall on my face on a greater and greater degree," he said. "For some reason, I keep putting myself in areas and doing things where the height from which you can fall is greater and greater. I don't know why." Crowell, 30, has been a vocal member of the Republican caucus, often sparring with more experienced debaters.

Crowell sometimes would go head-to-head in debates with Rep. Phil Smith, D-Louisiana. Smith chaired the House Civil and Administrative Law committee, on which Crowell served.

Crowell in committee was interested, asked the right questions and was not always willing to compromise, Smith said. Crowell on the floor showed flashes of temper, which Smith said he might have to tone down.

"Jason is a very, very, very capable person, and I have a lot of respect for him," Smith said. "Obviously, I think he's very, very partisan, and I don't know that it's a fault."

Rep. Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, describes Crowell as "a fighter who gets in there and doesn't let down."

Looking out for SEMO

Since the Republicans were in the minority last session, Crowell never carried a bill on his own. And the bills he did file -- on topics ranging from workers compensation benefits to child custody rules to the definition of sexual contact -- never even got hearings.

Another bill required a more public accounting of the money spent on a governor's inauguration. Democratic Gov. Bob Holden's inauguration cost nearly $1 million and took months to pay off.

Campaign finance reports show that Crowell got support from doctors, casino owners and the Missouri Bankers Association, which gave him $2,500.

During his first term, Crowell tried to protect Southeast Missouri State University, his alma mater and one of the biggest employers in his district. As a student, Crowell was president of his fraternity and of the student government association.

Crowell worked with Rep. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, on a committee that dealt with the state's higher education budget. Graham said budget items that affected his district didn't slide by Crowell, even though he was a freshman. "He's pretty quick," Graham said. "He kept his eye out for SEMO."

The skydiving habit Crowell picked up after high school has taken a back seat to his political work. He said he missed "the challenge to make sure I can summon the courage to get myself out the door and go forward.

"I try to find things like that. I try to find challenges."