Open or closed? Transportation votes spark controversy

ATLANTA - A routine vote on transportation board members turned into a debate on open government in the Legislature Thursday, as Republicans fought to end the tradition of voting by secret ballot. <br> <br> Legislators choose the 13 members of the Department of Transportation board, which oversees road construction for the state. <br> <br> For at least 15 years, lawmakers have chosen those members by secret ballot. Supporters say that procedure frees legislators to vote for the best candidate without worrying about punishment for bucking a party favorite. <br> <br> On the eve of Thursday&#39;s vote, though, Republican Governor Sonny Perdue said the DOT board vote should be public so voters would know whom their lawmakers chose for a board that controls billions in tax money. <br> <br> Republican lawmakers echoed the call as the General Assembly gathered to pick six board members. Board members serve five-year terms, so not all were up for re-election. <br> <br> Senator Eric Johnson of Savannah, the highest-ranking Republican in the GOP-controlled Senate, says anytime public funds are in question the voting should be public. <br> <br> The secret ballot debate is likely to last all day because of the procedure for picking board members. <br> <br> Legislators assemble by congressional district and are allowed to select a board member however they choose. That means a group of lawmakers from Atlanta can vote one way, and a group from another district can choose their own voting process.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/1/184925