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Mar 8, 2007 Bills differ on who would govern projects By Dana Beyerle But legislative bills introduced Tuesday that would create a commission are different from what Riley wants. Proposed legislation by Denton, D-Muscle Shoals, would create a five-member commission. Three members would be appointed by the governor from north Alabama, central Alabama and south Alabama districts. The governor would also appoint two at-large members. "I've researched it, and we've been going through this for years,'' Denton said Wednesday. "I've got a good bill.'' Ward, a Republican from Alabaster, introduced a bill to create a five-member commission consisting of at-large, gubernatorial appointees although no two could be from the same metropolitan area. Ward said he withdrew his bill from committee consideration Wednesday partly to accommodate House Speaker Seth Hammett. Ward said his rewritten bill would be more like Denton's bill. Denton said he would like Riley and DOT Director Joe McInnes "to sign on with my concept'' because it's "absolutely fair.'' Riley spokesman Jeff Emerson said Riley supported Ward's original bill. That's a change of mind for Riley who, in his 2010 plan, outlined a transportation commission made up of one member from each of the nine Department of Transportation divisions. "This is a legislative process and there's often the need for compromise in order to get something done, but the governor supports Rep. Ward's bill for at-large appointments,'' Emerson said. Emerson said Riley wouldn't load the commission with members from one area. "After talking with the DOT and upon further reflection, it makes more sense for the (commission) representatives to look after the interests of the entire state,'' Emerson said. "The concern is if you have nine members they'd be concerned about their own districts.'' Ward said he withdrew his bill from the agenda of the House Government Operations Committee in order to please Hammett and because of a committee rule on when amendments or substitutes may be submitted. Ward said Hammett wants a transportation commission to follow a recommendation by an infrastructure committee to create a commission featuring members from north, central and south Alabama districts plus two at-large members. Under both bills, commission members would be appointed by the governor to staggered terms so one governor couldn't pack the committee that would hire and fire the DOT director. Currently the governor and his appointed transportation director control road projects. Denton said politics should be removed from road building and that road building should be determined by a transportation director who is hired by a-commission. "The governor has too much power (over roads) although I've admitted this governor does not do that,'' said Denton. He said highway projects could be started by one governor and then ignored or slowed by future governors. "We've got to have some continuity,'' Denton said. Dana Beyerle can be reached at (334) 264-6605 or dtb12345@aol.com. Copyright © 2007 TimesDaily 
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