Election year may bring road commission

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A state representative says this election year might finally bring success for his legislation to end the governor's control over which highway projects get built and which get postponed.

Republican state Rep. Cam Ward of Alabaster has persuaded the House to pass a bill for seven years that would transfer control of the state Department of Transportation from the governor to an appointed commission. His bill has always died in the Senate. But Ward says this year may be different because Gov. Bob Riley is not seeking re-election and the commission would apply to a new governor.

Ward's bill is pending in a Senate committee. Democratic Sen. Larry Means of Attalla says he hopes to kill the bill like he has in past years. He says the system is working with the governor in control.