Panel to hear Employment Security proposal

  • Associated Press
  • Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Monday, March 19, 2012 9:04 a.m.
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COLUMBIA - Legislators will hear arguments for moving the state's Employment Security Commission into a new Cabinet agency.

A House Judiciary subcommittee will debate a bill Wednesday backed by Gov. Mark Sanford and House Majority Leader Kenny Bingham of West Columbia.

Bingham introduced the legislation and calls it a first step in improving operations of the state system to pay unemployment benefits and find people jobs.

The bill comes up for debate as Sanford reviews information he ordered the commission to provide about jobless claims. Sanford wants his Commerce Department to use the information to help create programs to put more people back to work.

South Carolina's 9.5 percent unemployment rate in December was the nation's third highest.