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Legislative inaction costly to thousands
10/19/2009 12:31 AM

9 comment(s) on this story

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Not making a minor change in the way emergency unemployment funds are disbursed may well cost tens of thousands of South Carolinians.

The Legislature could have tapped into millions of dollars for jobless South Carolinians - the ones who have been without work for the longest - if only it had made the change before adjourning in June.

The stimulus bill in Congress includes funds for states with the highest unemployment rates to continue paying benefits for an additional 20 weeks. South Carolina with its 11.5 percent jobless rate is among the states qualifying for the added benefits but is one of only two that did not make the necessary temporary changes to the economic index that determines the emergency benefits.

The millions of dollars that could have come to South Carolina's beleaguered jobless are being left on the table. Unlike other jobless funds that the state has been borrowing from the federal government, this bonus money would not have to be repaid.

Why South Carolina missed out on this opportunity to help its most needy people is a mystery. With the wrangling between Gov. Mark Sanford and the Legislature over accepting $700 million in stimulus money, this part of the federal funding legislation seems to have fallen through the cracks.

South Carolina legislators need to put their heads together to see if there is still time for them to reconvene in Columbia for an emergency session to make the necessary changes that will allow additional weeks of unemployment compensation to come this way. If the deadline has truly passed, legislators have some explaining to do to their constituents as to why they allowed this to happen.

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9 comment(s) on this story

: 10/19/2009

The democrats in SC don't have to do anything. Just sit back and watch the repubs screw everything up. If they can't get the additional funds, they will own this and pay for it on election day. The bad thing is that good people will suffer for the stupidity of the republican party.

: 10/19/2009

It will be difficult for the republicans to spin this, since they own the state. I think they will own this debacle too. It will cost them dearly on election day.

: 10/19/2009

For those that could have received extended benefits, please go and thank your republican lawmakers. Let them know just how much you appreciate their help. Let them know that you will remember them on election day.

@ Liberal NOT blaming Sanford : 10/19/2009

you can also group that crook Clyburn in that group you hold responsible! I don't care what that man says, crook is as crook does! He must be acquaintances with Charles Walker somewhere!

Rambo

Good ole South Carolina : 10/19/2009

Could not have said it any better myself. SC needs change. We really have nothing good going for us here.

A third world country in our midsts.

Not Sanford : 10/19/2009

No, SC problems are not due to Gov Sanford. They are due to the Republicans as a WHOLE. They wanted and won majority in SC House, SC Senate, Governor's mansion and most of the constitutional offices. They also won the RESPONSIBILITY for record unemployment, low infant mortality, lowest wages per capita, languishing at the rear in education....way to go GOP!

Liberal NOT blaming Sanford

RE: stimulus : 10/19/2009

I was against the stimulus but it has created some temporary jobs at SRS. Clyburn has been intimating management at SRS to make sure all those jobs go to people in his district.

Charles Cushman

MS : 10/19/2009

He really couldn't care less.

: 10/18/2009

The liberals would have you believe all of SC's problems are due to Governor Sanford and his fight against stimulus money. I guess that wasn't accurate. I would really like someone to answer my question as to how has the stimulus money helped SC?

The Baron

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