Studiously Incurious

Why aren't S.C. legislators clamoring for Hunley audit?

How did the projected cost of preserving and displaying the CSS Hunley get to be $97 million, an estimate that includes some private donations? How did the hand-powered Confederate submarine's legislative champion, S.C. Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, amass the power to spend, at will, the public money that makes up most of that sum?

A legislative audit of the Hunley program could answer these questions. Most candidates for governor and treasurer in the June 13 primaries said last week they would support such an audit - though the candidates who already hold state office seem less avid about the idea than challengers seeking state office for the first time. The (Columbia) State newspaper broke the story earlier this month.

We, too, think an audit is required. But neither the S.C. governor nor the S.C. treasurer has the power to order the Legislative Audit Council to sift through public Hunley spending.

The power resides solely in the General Assembly - where McConnell is a domineering figure. In a recent poll taken by The State, only 33 of the 73 senators and representatives said they thought an audit should be conducted. The rest, apparently, are studiously incurious to know how McConnell:

Leveraged public services, parking spaces and health insurance for workers on the Hunley project from agency heads, college presidents and mayors.

Collects money for the Hunley from state agencies rather than subjecting the project to public legislative scrutiny via the budget process.

Designated Clemson University to take over the Hunley's preservation, tapping university money that's supposed to support high-tech economic-development research.

Personally transferred millions from the State Budget and Control Board - on which Sanford, Treasurer Grady Patterson and Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom sit - to a Hunley foundation whose board he controls.

Chilled S.C. senators, including treasurer candidate Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, and gubernatorial candidate Tommy Moore, D-Clearwater, from questioning Hunley spending.

None of this is to suggest there is no public value in restoring the Hunley. It is an important S.C. historical artifact. But how did it get to be one of the most expensive public projects in S.C. history - exceeded in cost by only a few highway and bridge projects? If the project truly is worth that much in terms of tourism generation and economic development, why didn't McConnell subject it to public legislative scrutiny before money was spent?

Most important, now that the size of the Hunley money pit is a matter of public record, why aren't S.C. legislators clamoring for an audit? Fear of McConnell's retribution - if that's the reason - is not a good excuse for winking and nodding at his apparent conversion of public resources to a project whose value to taxpayers is unproven.