By FITSNews || This time last year, South Carolina’s Employment Security Commission (ESC) was doling out jobless benefits like candy to pretty much anybody who showed up and asked for them – including employees who were fired from their previous jobs for drug use.
In addition to these costly inefficiencies, the agency was also doing a piss poor job of placing workers in available positions – something that was exposed for the first time in an exclusive January 2009 FITS report (yes, we actually do serious journalism around here from time to time).
Meanwhile, FITS was also investigating numerous other allegations of corruption at the ESC – including taxpayer-funded union recruitment efforts and allegations of reverse discrimination, improper disbursement of benefits and an alleged sex-for-hire scam involving at least one top administrator.
Today?
The ESC is no more and a new agency – the Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) – has sprung up in its place. No longer run(into the ground) by a commission comprised of former state lawmakers, the ESC is now under the Governor’s Cabinet – which means a more direct line of accountability to the taxpayers.
Is that accountability paying off?
Early reports indicate that the answer is “yes.”
Sources tell FITS that the complaints now flooding the ESC … err, DEW … involve non-payment of benefits, some of them to former employees with legitimate claims.
Frankly, that’s not a terrible thing as far as we’re concerned – particularly when you consider that the businesses of this state are still on the hook for $900 million in debt associated with benefits paid out over the course of the recent recession. In fact, given that outstanding obligation (and the $1 billion hole in the upcoming state budget), we’d like to see a few more agencies puckering up when it comes to dispensing our tax dollars.
Obviously, we’re going to investigate some of the specific allegations to make sure legitimate claims aren’t being denied, but we’d be pleasantly surprised to learn that a government agency was erring on the side of fiscal prudence for a change.
One final point – while we see no reason why the functions of the new DEW couldn’t be folded into the Department of Commerce (thus creating more administrative efficiencies), we would commend the agency’s new leadership as well as Gov. Mark Sanford and Rep. Kenny Bingham for their efforts to bring this U-turn about.
We have been harsh in our criticism of both politicians in recent years, but there’s no disputing that they have taken leadership roles in moving this agency in the right direction.
Next step?
Creating a pro-free market business climate that keeps people out of the unemployment lines in the first place …
By Florida Watching June 15, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Interesting piece…….More new stuff, liking it alot.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
By Soft Sigh from Hell June 15, 2010 at 12:36 pm
I doubt it was simply the magic of cabinet status. It was by putting in a strong, already experienced, confident, enabled and backed, administrator with the instructions “fix it, make it work” rather than the typical “keep doing whatever” normally given to the common bureaucrat careerist who arrived at higher level by a long series of obsequious “yes’s” given to other hacks.
This agency’s failure allowed a strong change in direction. Other agencies better hide their failures. Still and all, it would be a good idea to replicate this experiment elsewhere. DHEC’s environmental side might be a good start, or LLR, or USC.
By Florida Watching June 15, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Hmmmmmmmm. State House Oversight???? Audit of Travel Expenses. How about the novel……… Internet Access on state owned computers. The SEC got dinged over thousands of hours of porn. Anyone checked on Jakie Knotts internet usage lately???? How about Naughty Nikki’s. If the press really wanted to dig…….whew…..where to start??? SC is lucky it doesn’t have something like the NY POST in Columbia. Talk about cleaning house.
By beachin June 15, 2010 at 2:59 pm
For Immediate Release June 1, 2010
With the failure of Congress to reach an agreement on another Unemployment
Insurance extension, claimants who have been on the UI program continually for 79 weeks or more will likely lose their benefits as early as this Saturday.
People who successfully file for unemployment insurance normally receive initial benefits for 26 weeks. Over the past couple of years, as the economy has declined, Congress passed a series of extensions for claimants who have been unable to find work. Anyone who has been receiving initial benefits for 26 weeks or less and individuals who are currently receiving benefits on one of the federal extensions also may eventually be affected by Congress’ failure to act. They may not be able to continue to receive benefits after the end of their current benefit cycle unless a Congressional agreement is in place at that time.
The bill has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S.
Senate is scheduled to consider the bill when it reconvenes on June 7.
This situation could be reversed when and if the extension bill is passed with a retroactive effective date.
The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, which administers the
Unemployment Insurance program, will continue to take claimant certifications so that checks can be issued promptly should the bill pass.
The bill in question currently also includes funding for summer employment
opportunities for youth. If and when it does pass Congress in its current form, those experiences may be available.
http://www.sces.org/
By Florida Watching June 15, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Ok…….that was informative. Thanks.
Let me try “Naughty Nikk’s Best Tricks” for $800……….Alex.
By Pam in SC June 15, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Florida Watching your obsession w/ Nicki is getting scary (LOL)
“just saying”
By R June 15, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Have a friend who works in this department and the reverse racism is amazing. When it comes to hiring employees for that agency I’m told HR will “pick” the minority candidate routinely. You’ve got people with MBAs not getting interviews but they’ll hire a minority that can’t find their way out of a wet paper bag.
By Florida Watching June 15, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Pam – Yeah, you are absolutely right. It is really not so much the individual, as the venue to rub that nagging rash the wrong way with a bunch of these blind hypocrats. It’s hard to hit a nerve though, nobody tries to bite. Sadly, old news is just plain old ……… if it wasn’t for the wacko Congressman from North Carolina..this would have been a really boring day.
By Florida Watching June 15, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Gotta like the odds of the SC GOP really screwing up this election year with all of their well informed voters. (LOL)
Just saying……… Dang it, gotta go. Jeopardy is coming on in a few minutes.
By eggaday June 15, 2010 at 7:19 pm
ditto all federal agencies to above comment
By the Space Boogey June 15, 2010 at 8:40 pm
I think we should test everybody for drugs.
That way we can execute sixty percent of the population of South Carolina.
By Transparency June 15, 2010 at 9:29 pm
If you want a good business climate, DON’T PUT IT AT COMMERCE.
Joe Taylor is a joke.
By Florida Watching June 16, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Ok Willie…….Time for new stuff. This thread is old.