Sanford agrees to apply for loan for unemployment benefits

Associated Press

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

COLUMBIA — Gov. Mark Sanford said today that he will will apply for a $146 million federal loan to keep benefits going out to 77,000 jobless residents through March.

Speaking at a late morning press conference, Sanford said he will continue to push for change but doesn't want the unemployed to be punished.

State Rep. James Smith said earlier today that he and five other lawmakers would request a state audit of the agency that handles unemployment benefits, in light of a demand from Sanford.

Had Sanford not requested the loan, the fund would have run dry at the end of Wednesday.

Check back with Charleston.net for more details.

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Comments

This article has 6 comment(s)

Posted by Name_Withheld on December 31, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sanford is attempting to force this state agency under his control instead of legislative control. His Karl Rove instincts told him he could leverage the unemployed in a misdirection strategy to accomplish by extortion what he could not win on a straight vote in the legislature. He does not care about the accountability of the Employment Security Commision. He wants it under his control so that he can eliminate it. His political mentors in the libertarian/flat tax/Grover Norquist camps praise this effort to strangle another government function, which was hard won by working people and keeps families afloat in hard times.

Posted by sig on December 31, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am glad he requested the funds so the people that are eligible for the benefits will not get hurt.

I agree 100% with Governor Sanford. Why should the ESC not welcome any audit from any qualified audit agency? That is because they know there are many people receiving benefits that they are not entitled to.

I hope he pushes for an audit of DHHS and DSS also. Did you know that if you receive benefits from these agencies that they have been giving $60.00 gas cards each month to defray the cost of gas.

Who assisted the hard working taxpayer when gas was at $4.00 per gallon? I know they can find one billion in Fraud in just those 2 agencies.

If you are spending tax payers money - they need to be audited as a minimum every 3 years. STOP THE FRAUD!

Posted by JohnGalt on December 31, 2008 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This will keep benefits going through March...then what?

Posted by moonpie on December 31, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Playing political games like this can't be good for the people. You know all their sorry butts in the state government, senators, reps and the gov are going to get paid no matter what! I used to like this guy but now I think he is looking at the next apple in the sky, so to speak... Reading to much of his own press.

Posted by mkris on December 31, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sandford is God ...

Posted by chucktonian on December 31, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

here's some advice for the "unemployed:" GET A JOB.

Sanford caved