By BOB JOHNSON The Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama House voted
Tuesday to set up a five-member commission that would
oversee the Alabama Department of Transportation and
appoint the agency's director.
The House voted 89-10 to create the commission. The
sponsor, Rep. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, said the
commissioners would be appointed by the governor, but
would serve staggered six-year terms so that all members
would most likely not be appointed by the same governor.
In addition to appointing the DOT director, the
commission would oversee the department's long range
planning of when and where highways will be built or
repaired.
Ward said this would help remove politics from the
agency's decision-making process.
"This would allow for our long term needs regardless
of who the governor is," Ward said.
Other legislators complained that in the past they
have seen priority road projects moved to the back
burner after a new governor was elected.
Gov. Bob Riley proposed establishing a DOT commission
during his campaign for his first term as governor in
2002. The governor praised the House for passing the
bill Tuesday.
"This is a reform that's been needed for a long time
and I hope this year I will finally get the chance to
sign it into law," Riley said.
Rep. Tommy Sherer, D-Jasper, said he has seen that
happen with a long planned project in his district in
Walker County.
"It seems for years if we voted right in the
governor's race, we got a whole lot done. If we didn't
vote right, we didn't get a whole lot done," Sherer
said.
Several legislators complained that the bill would
continue to give the governor control over DOT, because
he would appoint the commission members.
"I have a problem with any one person from either
party having the authority to appoint the board. It will
just be the same kind of stuff you are trying to get rid
of," said Rep. James Thomas, D-Selma.
Rep. Locy Baker, D-Abbeville, said he was concerned
that all members of the commission would end up being
from urban areas and that rural parts of the state would
be left out.
"What's going to happen to the country people? We're
going to be left out again," Baker said.
The bill now goes to the Senate for debate.
