In October, Representative Sheila Lumpe was defeated by one vote for the Democratic nomination for House Speaker. Since Bob Ward's resignation as House Majority Floor Leader, Callaway County Representative Gracia Backer announced she is vying for the office. Representative Wayne Crump, the Assistant Floor Leader, is also seeking the office. Crump says this time, gender is the main issue...
``The Speaker has told the chairmen not to pass over bills just because they're Republican bills,'' said Assistant Democratic Floor Leader Wayne Crump.
``The majority of the Republican changes are aimed at taking power away from the majority party,'' said Rep. Wayne Crump, D-Potosi, assistant majority floor leader.