When state lawmakers went back to Columbia two weeks ago just to change a law so the state would get millions from Washington to extend unemployment benefits, they passed up a chance to get millions more.

For the second time in the last few months, the South Carolina Employment Security Commission has sent out duplicate checks.

State lawmakers say they were surprised to learn that the state pays unemployment benefits to some people who are fired for misconduct or quit their jobs.

Lawmakers say the governor’s job is safe for now.

Thousands of South Carolina’s unemployed will miss out on additional benefits after state officials failed to take the steps necessary to secure them.

South Carolina businesses might have to pay more for each employee over the next couple of years to rebuild the state unemployment benefit fund.

A computer glitch at the South Carolina Employment Security Commission sent 1,250 people two unemployment benefits checks this week.

Gov. Mark Sanford has signed off on increasing South Carolina’s unemployment benefits by $25 a week as part of the federal stimulus package.

McKinley Washington, one of the state’s three Employment Security Commissioners, spoke to News Channel 7 to defend the agency’s handling of unemployment benefits, after the governor called the agency “out of control”.

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford says Employment Security Commissioners have been grossly negligent in handling the state’s unemployment trust fund. He says if they don’t supply him with the figures he wants, he’ll fire them.

The state may have to borrow money from the federal government, which could lead to higher taxes.