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Revamping ALDOT Highway construction and other transportation matters shouldn't be a political issue but they always have been in Alabama. The director of the state Department of Transportation is a political appointment of the governor. The state agency sets long range goals, called a five-year plan, but with a governor elected every four years, these goals often change and shift, depending on who the governor is and who the director is. As the old saying goes, it ain't a good way to run a railroad. Or a transportation department. A bill proposed by Rep. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster and backed by Gov. Bob Riley has past the House. It would create a transportation committee to oversee the department and hire the director. The commission members would be appointed by the governor to staggered terms that would extend beyond the terms of governors so no one governor could stack the commission. Appointees would come from different geographical areas of the state to assure that there is broad representation. The bill also requires that the commission's representation reflect the racial, gender and urban/rural makeup of the state as well. All in all, it is a good bill. Even though the terms are spread out, we'd like to see the lieutenant governor, speaker of the house and maybe some other state elected official having some appointment powers. This would further insure that a governor doesn't overly influence the commission's makeup.
The Senate should look at doing that. But if senators can't agree on the change, pass this bill. It is much better than what we have now.
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