A government watchdog has accused lawmakers of exceeding their authority.
Lawmakers are exploring the sale of taxpayer-owned Santee Cooper. 
“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 SC 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 of 5 elected officers including the governor met for the 1st time in decades this week.
Their task was to pick an external auditor for the utility which is more than $8 billion in debt.
The advisory board’s role has been neglected for years.
The SC Policy Council said it is responsible for oversight on behalf of South Carolinians, the council said.
See more about this in the June 27 issue of the Chronicle.