Special to the Chronicle

The next 2-cent gas tax hike will take effect Monday.

But the way the gas tax law is written can make it harder to hold your state lawmakers accountable.

The law took effect nearly 2 years ago, raising the gas tax 12 cents a gallon over 6 years and increasing other vehicle taxes and fees.

Yet the SC Department of Transportation has spent little of the money and completed few major projects.

The law changed the way DOT commissioners are appointed – although critics contend it’s no better than the old system.

Now lawmakers confirm appointees to 7 of 9 seats on the commission, which sets priorities on which roads and bridges get repaired.

Under the law, the governor makes the appointments, but the legislative delegations can reject the nominees or force new appointments. That gives separate groups of lawmakers control over those seats.

Those who want their lawmakers to push their commissioner to fix their bad roads and bridges may get little help if they live in areas where the lawmakers have less voter support.

West Columbia Democrat Sen. Nikki Setzler, for example, led the 2nd Congressional District legislative delegation in last year’s confirmation vote for that commission seat. Part of Setzler’s district includes Lexington County.

Voting records show Setzler was among 38 lawmakers who voted for commission candidate and former lawmaker John Burriss.

Burriss, a Lexington County real estate developer, said the delegation interviewed him for about an hour before confirming him.

Burriss replaced longtime commissioner John Hardee, the son-in-law of powerful Sen. Hugh Leatherman.

Brundrett is the news editor of The Nerve ( www.thenerve.org). Contact him at 803-254-4411 or rick@thenerve.org.