The Inside Job

South Carolina Unemployment Fund Near Insolvency

By Liz Wolgemuth

Posted: December 31, 2008

South Carolina's unemployment benefits fund is expected to be empty by the end of today if Gov. Mark Sanford does not request a federal loan that would keep benefit payments running through March. The governor is expected to announce his decision at a press conference this afternoon.

Sanford has resisted requesting the $146 million loan until the unemployment agency agrees to meet his requests for a state audit and increased data reporting on the state's unemployed.

The state's 77,000 unemployed are no doubt keeping a white-knuckled grip on their TV remotes, awaiting the governor's decision. South Carolina Republican state legislators are reportedly rather unhappy with Sanford. One lawmaker called it a "heartless and cruel act."

Sanford was among those considered potential runnning mates for John McCain. Here, U.S. News drew up a list of  10 Things You Don't Know About Mark Sanford.

No. 11: Well, I guess we'll find out this afternoon.

hey joe

with almost the highest state income taxes in the country

south carolina offers chit!!

dave of SC @ Feb 18, 2009 13:28:18 PM

Unemployment Benefits

I believe Governor Sanford was noted as being the third worst governor in the United States some time ago. With his antics like carrying piglets under his arms into the SC State House at one time and this new ridiculous showdown with the SC Securities and Exchange Commission he is definitely proving that he deserves this accolade. Friends that I talk to think that many of his past decisions have been plain "wacky." In addition, his explanations are usually so convoluted that it's sometimes impossible to understand what he means.

Note: For anyone actually familiar with piglets, they did to the floor of the SC State House what they would normally do in their own pig pen. I suspect Governor Sanford didn't actually know what he was getting into when he performed this particular stunt.

of SC @ Dec 31, 2008 13:59:10 PM

Unemployment Benefits

Apparently Governor Sanford feels there is a need for a closer look, both at the agency's distribution, and at the efforts of the unemployed to find employment. However, that is no comfort to those people who have bills pending and are depending on those benefits to help make ends meet. We are in a recession, and this is no time to withhold benefits that alot of people are expecting and depending on. Too many hardworking Americans have been laid-off due to the economy, and through no fault of their own are now in dire need of these benefits. A little humanity goes a long way.

Deborah M. Fisher of SC @ Dec 31, 2008 13:29:53 PM

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