A DISAPPOINTING WEEK AT THE CAPITOL

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Capitol is a busy place, especially when the General Assembly is in session. The hallways are crowded with tourists, citizens and interest groups who come to observe their government in action or to petition their elected representatives to support or oppose legislation.

Every day of the week there are dozens of schoolchildren who arrive at the Capitol. School buses from all over the state come to Jefferson City to tour the Capitol, observe the legislature in session and meet their state representative and state senator. The majority of these children are fourth graders who are studying Missouri history.

This past week, some schoolchildren may have had a lesson in more than Missouri history.

For those who have never visited the Capitol, the House and Senate chambers are on the third floor. Between the chambers is the rotunda. This is where children gather to have their class photo taken with their elected officials.

Last week, the children shared the rotunda with Planned Parenthood and other radical abortion supporters who were backing the governor's Women's Health Initiative legislation.

The groups had taped signs around the marble halls with slogans such as "Keep Abortion Legal" and "I Vote Pro-Choice." They also had several tables set up which were covered with stacks of pamphlets and handouts promoting their agenda. They had T-shirts with "Contraceptives Equal Prevention" emblazoned in bold letters across the front.

But the centerpiece of their tables was a large clear-glass bowl about the size of a punch bowl which was filled with condoms.

The brightly colored blue, green and red condoms were wrapped individually in clear cellophane packages and looked similar to small lollipops. Each condom had a message written on it: "Get it on right. Get it on line." And there was a 1-800 telephone number.

All of these items were laid out specifically for people, including schoolchildren, to pick up and take home with them -- including the condoms.

I went over to the table and asked the lady if she thought it was appropriate to have a bowl full of condoms in the Capitol rotunda with all the children around. She said it was a healthy thing. We had a heated disagreement on the appropriateness.

This did not surprise me, since I am not one of their favorite representatives. Earlier that day, they had delivered to each state representative's office a list of all the legislation they support and oppose.

My bill, House Bill 867, allowing pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for the abortion drug RU-486 is at the top of their list for defeat. I am surprised at how adamant they are to make all pharmacists carry and distribute this abortion drug.

I must admit I was not very proud to be a Missouri state representative last week. I couldn't help but think of all the parents who would wonder about and doubt the stories their children would tell them about their visit to the Capitol.

Unfortunately, they will be telling the truth.

Rod Jetton of Marble Hill, Mo., is the state representative from the 156th District.