COLUMBIA, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford's plan to target certain state workers, such as law enforcement officers, for pay raises was criticized by some lawmakers Wednesday.

State Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter said the proposal would do little to help state troopers that she says have worked under an "arbitrary and capricious" system of raises and promotions for years.

"I know too many troopers who, in the past, were shafted by the previous director and I am concerned about a pay proposal that doesn't change this issue of 'who you know' as far as promotions are concerned," the Orangeburg Democrat said.

State Department of Public Safety Director Jim Schweitzer said promotions are neither arbitrary nor capricious.

"In my experience at the department, I have not seen any evidence of that," said Schweitzer, who has run Sanford's cabinet agency for nine months. "I'm not going to tolerate that."

Currently, troopers with more than five years on the force are eligible for raises only as part of general work force pay increases or if they are promoted.

Cobb-Hunter's criticism came as a House budget subcommittee reviewed elements of Sanford's budget proposal for several state law enforcement and criminal justice agencies.

The budget also calls for putting $28 million into targeted state worker raises. While the money could give every state worker a 2 percent raise, Sanford wants agency heads and managers to be more selective in raises.

Agency heads should decide how to use the money, Sanford said. If the Corrections Department "targets their pay increase towards guards making under $30,000, they can provide them with a 7 percent increase in pay," Sanford said in his budget. That would increase starting wages for officers to $22,090 from $20,645, Sanford said.

Cobb-Hunter and the panel's chairwoman, Rep. Annette Young, R-Summerville, said they wanted more details before using Sanford's plan in the state budget. "I'd like to see it in writing," Young said.

Schweitzer said he has not seen details of Sanford's proposal, but said he wants more flexibility to give troopers raises without promotions.