MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
The Missouri Senate has given initial approval to a plan that would give the legislature more oversight over MoDOT.
But, the plan doesn't go as far as earlier proposals.
Johnathan Woodward explains from Jefferson City.
One of the original ideas from Senator Jon Dolan of Lake St. Louis was to have an inspector general responsible for keeping MoDOT on the right track.
But that idea--and others--ended up falling by the wayside.
The plan approved by the Senate would let a legislative panel hire a director who could investigate problems in MoDOT.
Dolan says the plan isn't as broad as he would have liked--but he says it's still positive change.
A proposal that would make the governor rather than the state highway commission appoint the MoDOT director was also defeated.
In Jefferson City, Johnathan Woodward, KMOX News.
Should MoDOT's director be appointed by the governor?
Some say it would make MoDOT answer to the will of the public.
But the state Senate voted down the idea.
Johnathan Woodward reports from Jefferson City.
The call for a MoDOT director appointed by the governor was one of many proposed changes, all with the stated goal of holding MoDOT more accountable to the public.
But that plan, along with a stronger MoDOT inspector general, fell by the wayside in the Senate.
Senator Matt Bartle of suburban Kansas City says those changes could have brought MoDOT more money down the road--
But other senators said keeping power with the state highway commission--instead of elected politicians--was a better idea.
The Senate did approve strengthening a legislative oversight panel, and banning highway commission members from political campaigning and fund raising.
That plan faces a final vote before proceeding to the House.
In Jefferson City, Johnathan Woodward, KMOX News.
Missouri's Senate has given initial approval to a bill that would give the legislature more oversight over MoDOT.
But several ideas in the original bill aren't there anymore.
Johnathan Woodward explains why from Jefferson City.
Senator Jon Dolan's bill called for an inspector general, which would have been responsible for keeping MoDOT on the right track.
Dolan also supported having the governor appoint the MoDOT director, taking power away from the state highway commission.
But neither of those proposals made it through with other changes.
Still, Dolan says the changes that did pass are a step in the right direction.
The Senate did approve giving a legislative oversight panel the power to investigate MoDOT and handle complaints.
In Jefferson City, Johnathan Woodward, KMOX News.