Newest state lawmakers keeping quiet for a while

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Tradition has it that freshmen legislators should be seen but not heard.

That era was expected to come to an end with the onset of term limits, which will result in a Missouri House of Representatives composed of a freshmen majority in the 2003 session.

But from early indications, Missouri's newly elected House members would still prefer to remain silent for a while -- at least when it comes to taking public positions on likely legislative issues.

Take, for example, Rep.-elect Dennis Wood -- a man who describes himself as "very outspoken."

When approached by a reporter in the Capitol hall near the end of his first week of legislative training, Wood immediately warned: "I'm not going to talk about issues."

But he gladly engaged in a conversation explaining why he would not talk.

Wood, a real estate agent and Republican from Kimberling City in southern Missouri, compared state government to an elephant. At this point, he knows the elephant has a trunk, legs and ears, but he's not educated about the inner workings of the elephant's body.

"I don't believe I know enough about the issues to speak intelligently," Wood said.

19 of 90 respond

During orientation sessions last week for 90 new House members, The Associated Press distributed short surveys posing questions on issues likely to come before the legislature, such as budget priorities, concealed guns, toll roads and abortion.

Just 19 people responded -- one anonymously.

Some lawmakers called the questions "too controversial." Others said they first wanted to learn the position of their political party caucuses. Still others said they didn't want to take one position now, then be accused of flip-flopping if they vote differently after learning more about legislation.

Wood was among those who didn't fill out the survey.

So was Rep.-elect Sherman Parker, R-St. Charles, whose campaign Web site touts him as "one of the most experienced and knowledgeable freshman legislators" -- having worked for U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, newly elected U.S. Sen. Jim Talent and John Ashcroft, now the U.S. attorney general.

Parker said new House members "don't want to be dinged" by taking an early position that could be used against them in a future campaign.

"Everyone -- Republicans and Democrats -- they want to be cautious and they don't want to misspeak," Parker said.

Part of the reluctance is because some new House members have just completed campaigns where the advertising turned negative.

Now many are making their first trip to the Capitol, and "it's an intimidating building," said Rep. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, a legislative "veteran" of just two years who has been nominated as the next House majority floor leader.