STATE — After returning to Columbia for a special session last week, state legislators have approved extending unemployment for tens of thousands of residents.

Last week, legislative leaders approved legislators returning to Columbia for a special session in order to address the matter.

Had they not done so, a formula outlined in state and federal law could have spelled the end for unemployment benefits for many.

Last month, officials with the Employment Security Commission announced that the unemployment rate among the number of workers eligible for unemployment insurance below fell federal standards, automatically cutting off the Extended Benefits program.

The state House passed the bill authorizing the extension of benefits Tuesday, and gave it a third and final reading Wednesday afternoon.

The bill was then sent on to the Senate for final approval.

This action allows the state to access millions in federal funds from the federal stimulus package available for unemployment benefits extensions by states.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell said, “The

legislative fix that we made today will ensure that thousands of unemployed South Carolinians will not have their unemployment benefits prematurely cut off.

Legislators lambasted the commission for not informing them of this glitch in the law during the General Assembly’s regular session.

“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,” Harrell continued. “This oversight further highlights the need for reforming the Employment Security Commission.”

“Had we known at the beginning, during the legislative session that this was a concern, we would have corrected it then,” said Rep. B.R. Skelton. “We simply were not made aware of that.”

The extension is retroactive, meaning it applies to both those who were recently denied and those who were facing benefits being cut off.

The House bill passed with no opposition, 113-0.

Gov. Sanford was scheduled to sign the bill into late Thursday morning.

Legislators received no pay for returning to Columbia for the special session.

Many had speculated that the General Assembly would use the session as an opportunity to begin impeachment proceedings against Sanford, but Harrell shot down that idea, blocking an impeachment resolution introduced by Rep. Greg Delleney, R-Chester, Tuesday.

“During these difficult economic times, we need to not only focus intensely on economic development, but also make sure our state’s unemployed do not suffer further by being denied access to these federal benefits,” Harrell said.

Harrell said that research showed the General Assembly does not have the authority to begin impeachment proceedings after adjourning their regular session.

Delleney said his resolution will be sent to committee, and that he expects the Assembly to act on it when they return in January.

As of press time, the United States Congress was set to begin debate on extending federal unemployment benefits.