Two major steps forward on the course to deepening Charleston’s harbor in the past week highlight the work of South Carolina’s political leadership — led by Sen. Lindsey Graham — and offer hope that the Port of Charleston will be able to accommodate the super-size ships that soon will be able to navigate the Panama Canal.
Every step forward on this project represents hope for the economy of South Carolina and the region. This state’s economy depends on a Port of Charleston that can receive and deliver goods around the world no matter how big the ship that carries them. News on Monday that President Barack Obama has included $3.5 million in his latest budget to fund the port deepening study demonstrates increasing acceptance that the region’s and even the nation’s economy will be affected by this port’s ability to accept the new “Post Panamax” container ships that will proliferate on the eastern seaboard after 2014.
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Graham avoided the earmarks controversy for this year by helping craft a special port projects fund out of which the Corps of Engineers took the $2.5 million for the year’s portion of the feasibility study. Obama’s decision to put the $3.5 million in funding in his budget avoids the earmark issue because any money in the president’s budget can be appropriated by Congress without being called an earmark, Graham said.
In that sense, the appropriation isn’t a guarantee that the funding will be in place for next year. That’s especially true given the contention that’s likely to surround Congress’ debate over the president budget. That said, having the funding in the presidential budget makes the process easier than it has been.
There is a lot of heavy lifting that remains on this issue, both next year and in the foreseeable future. However, if the state’s leadership continues to make its case the way it has over the past two years, the chances of finishing this project are greatly improved.
The congressional delegation, led by Graham and joined by others such as Riley, has done an admirable job keeping this issue at the fore. Without their hard work, this project would not be moving forward as it is. Their continued diligence is needed to keep the project on track or even accelerate the time line.
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