A government watchdog has accused lawmakers of exceeding their authority.

Lawmakers lack the legal authority to sell taxpayer-owned Santee Cooper, said the SC Policy Council.

“Not only is this beyond the proper jurisdiction of legislators – whose job is simply to establish laws – but their approach is leaving citizens in the dark,” the Policy Council said.

“Santee Cooper is the property of the taxpayers, not the government.

“Any exploration of a sale must be conducted in a fully transparent, accountable process,” the council said.

The Santee Cooper Advisory Board met for the 1st time in decades to pick an auditor for the utility that is more than $8 billion in debt, the council said.

The 5 advisors – Gov. Henry McMaster, Attorney General Alan Wilson, Treasurer Curtis Loftis, Comptroller Richard Eckstrom and Secretary of State Mark Hammond – are charged with overseeing Santee Cooper

The council said:

• The advisors’ role has been neglected for years.

• Advisors should be in charge of the sale which should start with a halt to all non-essential activity and an in-depth, comprehensive audit with all findings disclosed to the public.

• The meeting was perfunctory with advisors merely rubber stamping staff recommendations of the same auditor of the last 15 years.

The council asked if the auditor knew about the critical Bechtel audit of the failed Santee Cooper-SC Electric & Gas nuclear project detailing its problems. If so, why was that not revealed in Santee Cooper’s financial reports?

• The 2 committees currently in charge of exploring the sale of Santee Cooper are comprised entirely of lawmakers and their appointees, with the exception of one member appointed by the governor.

• A legislative committee cannot be held accountable to the state as lawmakers only represent their districts.

• Key decisions – such as the procurement process for a consultant company to accept bids for Santee Cooper – have been made behind closed doors.

• Lawmakers have a statutory duty to approve the sale but not the process.