LAWMAKERS EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, SANFORD IMPEACHMENT BILL NOT INTRODUCED

For the South Carolina House of Representatives, Tuesday’s one-day special session was marked both by what did happen and what didn’t happen.

The House passed a Senate bill to fix an oversight by the Employment Security Commission that would have cut off access to federal unemployment benefits. But lawmakers did not allow introduction of legislation to impeach disgraced Gov. Mark Sanford.

The bill to extend unemployment benefits passed 113-0. The fix is retroactive, so both those who have recently been denied these federal funds and those in danger of soon being cut off will now be granted access to these benefits.

“It is unfortunate that this session was needed and could have been avoided if the Employment Security Commission had informed the General Assembly of the necessity of this fix,” said House Speaker Bobby Harrell. “This oversight further highlights the need for reforming the Employment Security Commission.”

Representatives will return Wednesday at 2 p.m. for a procedural third reading of the bill before sending it to the Senate where it is expected to pass unanimously. Sanford said he did not object to the legislation.

But Sanford might have objected to legislation by Rep. Greg Delleney (R-Chester) that sought to remove the governor from office.

Delleney attempted to introduce a bill to impeach Sanford for dereliction of duty, absence without leave, deceit and cover up, and disgrace of office.

In the wake of Sanford’s six day disappearance and admission of an affair, he has been the focus of a State Ethics Commission over allegations that he used state aircraft for personal travel, violated state requirements by using high-priced airfare, and did not report the use of private aircraft.

Delleney’s bill, however, was not filed.

Rep. Walt McLeod (D-Newberry) made a point of order — which was upheld by Harrell — that the bill could not be considered under the Sine Die resolution.

“There are six provisions under which something can be considered, and introduction of legislation is not one of them,” said a State House staffer.

Even if Delleney’s bill had been introduced, it would have likely just been read and referred to committee, the staffer said.

The bill could be pre-filed for the 2010 regular session as soon as November but is highly unlikely to be considered before January.