SC Governor Says Loan Request Waiting On Agency Deal

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A spokesman for South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford says a request for federal aid to pay benefits to out-of-work residents will be signed as soon as unemployment officials agree to certain conditions.

Employment Security Commission board members and staff were meeting Monday to discuss the governor’s demands. Sanford has said he wants the agency to seek an independent audit of its operations and to do a better job of sharing information with the state Commerce Department.

Unemployment officials say without the $146 million loan, the state’s trust fund to pay jobless benefits will run out of money by Thursday. The state already has borrowed $15 million to pay benefits through the end of this year.

South Carolina’s unemployment rate was 8.5 percent last month.