The government should get out of the way and do whatever it can to help the private sector create jobs. The House took action last week to get the government out of the way and let the private sector flourish and create jobs.

Spurring action was the Legislative Audit Council report on the Employment Security Commission. It was an audit beyond allegations of mismanagement.

Two weeks ago, the House approved several systemic changes that arose from the committee’s hearings, including restricting state payments to employees fired for gross misconduct or drug use and restricting claims by employers.

The audit revealed many shocking facts:

— The commission did not warn the General Assembly that the unemployment trust fund balance plummeted from a $835 million surplus 10 years ago to an $800 million deficit today.

— That the agency did not properly investigate mismanagement.

— S.C. workers fired for misconduct collected $171 million over three years.

While the ESC is charged with helping South Carolinians find jobs, the audit found that only 40 percent of the jobs available in our state are listed with the agency.

This week’s audit shows that it is vital that we reform the ESC from a check-writing agency to a job placement agency that helps businesses find the employees they need to grow the economy. I hope this audit spurs quick reform.

The House also filed legislation last week that will get government out of the way of business as the economy begins to recover.

Some of the major recommendations in the bill are the elimination of the Corporate Income Tax, Restoration of the Closing Fund and various improvements to our economic incentive tools.

Tort Reform, ESC Reform and Rail access at the Port of Charleston.

These are private sector solutions, not government solutions, and the kind of solutions that will move our state forward.

The legislation extends the life of any permits issued by the state for development through 2010 and applies retroactively to permits applied for since 2008. It covers statewide permits by various state agencies such as the Department of Transportation and the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Typically, permits expire after a certain amount of time if work has not started on a project. Once permits expire, applicants must re-apply for the permits. It is not unusual for the reapplication process to take a year or more. Such a delay could prolong the recession and delay economic recovery.

Thank you for the privilege of serving you in Columbia. Please contact me if you have issues with state government, or have any comments on any other issue. You can reach me at (864) 487-2121; or (803) 734-3073; or at 306 Silver Circle Gaffney S.C. 29340.