Road-building will get a whole new look if Congressman Jim Talent is elected governor. He wants to overhaul the Department of Transportation so the director would make the policy decisions on road construction. Talent wants the Highways and Transportation Commission to recede into a watchdog role. Right now, the six-member commission decides which roads to build and improve and the director carries out their orders. Talent thinks his changes will make the department more accountable to voters. He denies the charges by his opponent, democrat Bob Holden, that the arrangement would be more political.
