Read more: Local, Politics, Special Legislative Session, Columbia, Mark Sanford, Governor, SC
During Tuesday's special legislative session in Columbia, a republican lawmaker failed in his attempt to introduce a resolution to impeach Governor Mark Sanford.
Representative Greg Delleney from Chester county says Sanford should be held accountable for skipping town in June to be with his mistress in Argentina.
Lawmakers say they can only deal with a limited number of issues during a special session, and they reconvened to possibly extend benefits to the unemployed, but the impeachment resolution took center stage on the house floor.
Representative Delleney tried to introduce a resolution to impeach Governor Mark Sanford.
"Impeachment is a constitutional duty," he said.
The resolution drew opposition from his fellow lawmakers.
They wanted to focus on the issue that brought them to Columbia, to extend unemployment benefits to people out of work.
"The mindset of most people is to take care of the unemployment insurance and the benefit issue then adjourn," said Rep Tracy Edge, (R) Horry County.
"We need to be here to fix the Employment Security Commission issues for the people of this state and we need to go home," said Rep Kris Crawford, (R) Florence County.
"We really want to stay on focus," said Rep. Robert Williams, (D) Florence, Darlington Counties.
After continued debate on the house floor, Speaker of the House Bobby Harrell ruled the introduction of the resolution was out of order because it violated the terms of why house members reconvened.
Several lawmakers agreed with the Harrell's decision and say the resolution is just too premature to deal with right now.
"This is not the appropriate place nor the time to deal with that," said Rep. Terry Alexander, (D) Florence County.
"We haven't yet received the report from the ethics commission and most of us feel like we should wait and get that," said Rep Doug Jennings, (D) Marlboro County.
The speaker says that Delleney can re-file his resolution next month in advance of their regular session in January
As far as the extension of unemployment, lawmakers gave first reading on it and will come back Wednesday to possibly pass it.
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