Farm group urges change in direction

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Farm Bureau on Wednesday urged Gov. Bob Holden to fundamentally change the state's transportation policy with his pending appointments to the State Highways and Transportation Commission.

Two positions on the six-member commission, which oversees the Missouri Department of Transportation, became open Saturday. Holden could announce his choices as early as today.

In a letter to Holden dated Wednesday, Farm Bureau president Charles E. Kruse told the governor to pick his choices wisely. Farm Bureau has been highly critical of the commission in recent years because of the failure of a transportation plan that heavily favored spending for rural roads and bridges over urban projects.

"There must be fundamental change in the Highway and Transportation Commission, how it operates and the decisions it makes," Kruse said. "If the only thing that changes are the members' names, then the commission will continue to fail in its leadership and fail to gain the support of the general public and organizations such as ours."

Farm Bureau was instrumental in helping defeat a transportation tax proposal championed by Holden this year in the Legislature. A restoration of public confidence in the commission's leadership is a necessary first step before the Farm Bureau would back any future transportation tax proposal, Kruse said.

Leadership change sought

Whether Farm Bureau is happy with Holden's eventual selections remains to be seen. However, the commission leader will change. Holden has said he won't re-appoint any current commissioners, who serve six-year term.

The Associated Press, citing sources in the governor's office, has reported former Senate President Pro Tem Bill McKenna of Barnhart and Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce President Jim Anderson will be Holden's picks for the commission. The governor's office didn't return phone calls Wednesday seeking comment.

In an interview, Kruse declined to say whether Farm Bureau supports the choice of those men, if indeed they are who the governor names. However, Kruse stressed that lack of endorsement should not be taken as an indication Farm Bureau opposes McKenna or Anderson for the commission.

"If it turns out the two people whose names have been mentioned are appointed by the governor, I hope they bring fairness to their responsibilities to indicate to people that it is a new day and can move ahead and do some positive things."

In addition to the two existing openings, which must be filled by Democrats, Holden will have another vacancy to fill on Dec. 1. A Republican must be chosen for that seat.

Though Holden's selections can begin serving immediately upon appointment on an interim basis, they are subject to confirmation by the Senate when it convenes for the year in January.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, has said Holden's nominees will undergo strict scrutiny.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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