Sanford comes through on state jobless benefits

More than 70,000 out-of-work South Carolinians caught up in a fight between the governor and the Employment Security Commission were relieved when the state's chief executive agreed to an 11th-hour action that continues their benefit checks.

Gov. Mark Sanford agreed to sign off on a request for a $146 million federal loan just as unemployment benefits were set to run out. But he demanded that the commission meet certain requirements.

Sanford said he will fire the agency's three commissioners, who each earn $100,000, if it does not provide better information to the state Commerce Department. At least two groups of lawmakers pledged to request a review of the commission by the Legislative Audit Council.

The state's 8.4 percent unemployment rate for November was the third-highest in the country,

Bonus brouhaha

With a bottomed-out economy and longshoremen looking for second jobs, state Sen. Glenn McConnell said the State Ports Authority picked the wrong time to hand out bonuses.

The SPA awarded $208,000 to its top managers and roughly $500,000 to the rest of its employees. The bonuses were based on a predetermined performance plan, the SPA said. The incentive plan is a more than 20-year-old program that is included in the SPA's annual budget. About 25 ports across the country have similar plans.

Shipping cuts

Evergreen Shipping Agency (America) Corp. said Tuesday that it will consolidate some of its North America offices and cut its labor force, blaming a global slump in the ocean-shipping business. The firm's Charleston office is among those that will lose an undisclosed number of employees, a spokeswoman said. The company is a large customer for the Port of Charleston.

Look again?

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission thinks Force Protection Inc. should have its 2006 financial statements audited again because of accounting oversights at the firm that examined its books for that year. The Ladson-based armored-vehicle maker said it would request a waiver from the recommendation. Force Protection said it wants to avoid falling behind again on its SEC filing deadlines. The SEC said the 2006 books should be reaudited by a firm that is registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The regulatory board revoked the registration of Force Protection's 2006 outside auditor, Jaspers + Hall PC, about two months ago for violating accounting rules and standards. Jasper + Hall is no longer the manufacturer's auditor.