A State Representative who tried to scrap Missouri’s presidential primary says the poor voter turnout proves his point. Representative David Pearce of Warrensburg wanted to get rid of the primary, saying it was too costly for a state strapped for cash. Pearce, a Republican, denies his bill last year to scrap the primary was a slap in the face of former Democratic presidential candidate Richard Gephardtof St. Louis. He says he wasn’t motivated by politics. It cost Missouri $3.7-Million to hold the presidential primary. And, with just under 550,000 voters casting ballots, that works out to $6.80 a vote.