Back in December, the last time legislators had to deal with cost overruns for the State House restoration, the pain of budget-busting bids was soothed by the explanation that high prices were the price Maine paid for a booming economy. Construction was lively, contractors were, as busy Mainers are fond of saying, “out straight,” workers were at a premium. The law of supply and demand was being enforced.

New cost overruns were announced last week — another $2 million on top of the previous $5 million for a grand, though probably not final, total of $32 million. This time, though, the jolt of sticker shock comes not from inflation but inattention.

With generous helpings of finger-pointing and subject-changing. The project manager for the construction team says about half of the overruns are due to lawmakers changing their minds, adding stuff, and changing their minds again. Assistant Minority Leader Richard Campbell, Republican, complains about a lack of leadership by the architect so what he calls “we, the inexperienced” can make timely, on-budget decisions. Rep. Campbell’s occupation, incidentally, is listed in the Legislature’s registry as contractor/developer. House Speaker Steven Rowe, Democrat, prefers not to focus upon the problems, but on the outcome — future generations of Maine citizens will revel in this renovated splendor. And, no doubt, get to still be paying for it.

Members of both parties have cast aspersions upon the Legislative Council the management arm of the Legislature, as if this 10-member group was some secret society, making changes and approving higher costs in some hidden lair. It’s worth reminding these lawmakers that the Legislative Council is them — the party leaders they elected.

The fundamental problem with this project, from the time it was announced nearly three years ago, is that it has never been what it seemed. Virtually every news organization in this state has someone on staff who remembers being led through the State House on a tour of low-hanging pipes, exposed wiring, cracked plaster and drafty offices. It was all about health and safety, it was going to cost $15 million or so.

From that highly public beginning, it’s been a gradual evolution, most of it taking place in the not-so-public presentations before the Maine Governmental Facilities Authority. A $30,000 mahogany House rostrum here, an $800,000 display for wildlife dioramas there, it starts to add up. And, somehow, it still doesn’t add up.