12/7: Rendering a more balanced state tax structure

Statehouse Report: Andy Brack: Rendering a more balanced state tax structure

"With a quarter of the state’s population jobless, underemployed or fed up looking for work, a pretty good case can be made that if the state of South Carolina wants to move past the recession, it needs to seriously rethink its priorities.

"Instead of continuing to do things the same ways they’ve always been done, now might be the best time to shake things up a little. Perhaps it is time to focus more on underfunded areas that, if funded better, could generate real rewards."

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Jobless hotline in state swamped with calls

ARKANSAS: State to get lottery vending machines in Spring 2010

FLORIDA: House lawmakers to vote on commuter rail today

GEORGIA: Spread of hemlock woolly adelgid worries Georgia foresters

KENTUCKY: State to adopt protocol for death row executions

LOUISIANA: Analysis: Gov. Jindal quiet on Medicaid fix he sought

MISSISSIPPI: Three cities legalize Sunday alcohol sales

NORTH CAROLINA: State Chamber of Commerce talks taxes with state policy makers

SOUTH CAROLINA: Five reasons why Sanford may remain state's governor

TENNESSEE: State improves on ranking of healthy states, moving from 48th to 44th

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine proposes expanding health benefits to partners

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to info@bettersouth.org

Three Southern states to borrow funds to pay unemployment

SOUTH CAROLINA: State is one of eight with insolvent unemployment funds

Andrew Stettner, deputy director for the National Employment Law Project, said while some other states such as Michigan and New York are borrowing much more from the federal government to pay their unemployed, South Carolina's situation stands out because of its size.

South Carolina has so far borrowed $187 million; the state will likely ask for more as swelling unemployment overwhelms the state's fund, which once held $800 million. Stettner said South Carolina's loans will take years to pay off and are the result of "bad policy choices and neglect."

North Carolina and Kentucky are among the eight with the problem as well. North Carolina is now paying about $50 million a week in unemployment benefits. North Carolina borrowed $13 million this week, and officials plan to ask for more as needed, tapping into a $540 million line of credit.

Also in the South:

ALABAMA: Secretary of State Beth Chapman may run for governor in 2010

ARKANSAS: Job losses could impact schools, if families move in search of work

FLORIDA: State reverts to in-house food service for inmates following failed privatization by Gov. Bush

GEORGIA: Sunday alcohol sales seen as possible booster of state's economy

KENTUCKY: Global Environmental Services recycles, refurbishes electronic gadgets

LOUISIANA: Historically black colleges hit hard by economic downturn

MISSISSIPPI: Bill would make traffic cameras at intersections illegal

NORTH CAROLINA: Student fund could go bust by 2012 if legislature can't find financial aid source

TENNESSEE: State Democratic Party chairman lays out plan to take over legislature

VIRGINIA: Gov. Kaine to give legislators an update on budget forecast today

If you have a news story about public policy to suggest, send an email to: info@bettersouth.org.