The General Assembly's October session

South Carolina is going to have its General Assembly reconvene next week, but not for the reason most thought it would. The impeachment of Governor Mark Sanford will not be addressed. Instead, the General Assembly will be meeting next week to solve a glitch in South Carolina law that prevents South Carolina from getting further stimulus money to extend unemployment benefits.

There is some major finger pointing going on about why the General Assembly has to return to fix such a glitch. Legislative leaders are blaming the Employment Security Commission. But, should not legislators and their staff members know what is in federal bills and be able to address any problems while the General Assembly is in session? The ESC is not blameless. There should have been someone working there who could ring an alarm bell about the situation.

What is really interesting is that the leadership of the General Assembly is pushing a one day October meeting and making clear it will not address the issue that is on the mind of their constituents: the Mark Sanford question. In other words, perhaps the biggest political question of our lifetimes will be ignored while the General Assembly fixes what can only be called a screw up, a dropped ball, whatever phrase one wants to use for a boneheaded mistake. It is telling that South Carolina is the only state that did not address whatever indexing problem it had in regards to unemployment statistics and the federal stimulus extension in its legislature’s regular session.

Next week the General Assembly will meet to address an important problem it missed in its regular session. That is fitting. Further, here is hoping while they gather that some members will buck the leadership, so to speak, and address the Sanford issue. It is far past time for someone to have the courage to stand up and call for the General Assembly, and we as a state, to deal with the Sanford issue, one way or another, once and for all. What better time than next week? Next week could be a great cleanup session. Fix the unemployment goof, and address Sanford. But, that is rational and logical and is perhaps asking a bit too much.