Film audit timing is fair game

Gov. Chet Culver was not ready for this close up.

Just a wafer-thin week before Election Day, State Auditor David Vaudt dropped the big one - an audit of the state film office fiasco showing $26 million in improper tax credits awarded to filmmakers. That's a big thumbs down, if you're scoring at home.

The film scandal last fall helped make Culver an underdog for re-election. Now, just as he seemed to be gaining ground, it's back.

Culver's camp accused Vaudt, a Republican, of playing politics. Of course he was. Vaudt denies it, but any manager worth his salt could control when this audit hit the fan, with dramatic effect. Vaudt's been campaigning hard for Culver's Republican rival, Terry Branstad. Politicking is thrilling, still, funny thing is, it makes you a politician.

But Iowans have a right to see this audit before they vote. This was no small matter in the Culver record.

Among this administration's boo-boos, the film office is its most enduring, maddening classic. It's come up in every debate and often on the campaign trail. His managerial competence is a key issue in the race.

Culver's backers contend our quick-thinking governor moved swiftly to shut down the program when trouble surfaced, then began collecting resignations. He ordered a review of all tax credits and was the one who requested Vaudt's audit.

P.S. Would have liked it sooner.

True, Culver is not personally responsible. But it happened on his watch. Facing a ticked-off, fed-up electorate, he's going to pay a political price. We won't know how much until Tuesday. I'm not sure the audit makes it much worse.

Let's also give a supporting actor nod to our Legislature, which approved the program with broad, bipartisan support. Then, it provided only enough funding to put one person in charge of tens of millions of dollars in credits. It turned out the guy was a great booster but a lousy banker.

Lawmakers had visions of movie premiers, but no vision for a functional program with adequate oversight. Cineplexes have more people guarding the popcorn than we had in the film office.

Will Branstad do any better? I've seen little evidence he will. He's talking about dismantling the Department of Economic Development, which housed the film office, and replacing it with a “public-private partnership.” How will private management improve oversight and transparency? You got me. Details are sketchy.

Odds are, assorted tax credit giveaways will continue under Branstad. But I'm betting dramatic close-ups directed by Vaudt will be rarer.

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