Letter: Know reason behind Tom Davis’ stand on gas-tax

I am writing in response to a letter to the Packet on March 23. The writer takes state Sen. Tom Davis to task for opposing a gas tax to improve our state’s roads. The writer doesn’t mention the political chicanery that has long controlled how the money set aside for road improvements is spent in South Carolina.

In most states, the governor’s administration channels the money for roads on a needs basis. Not so in South Carolina. Here, a few very powerful members of the South Carolina legislature make sure that most of the money for roads is spent in their home districts.

We have all witnessed the damage this practice has done to our state’s road system . This misuse of power is the main cause of our state’s bad roads. Fixing this process should free up enough money to improve our state’s roads without new taxes. Thanks, Tom.

This story was originally published March 26, 2016 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Letter: Know reason behind Tom Davis’ stand on gas-tax."