A former Aiken County Republican Party treasurer has written a letter admitting she paid for unsolicited automatic phone calls in South Carolina legislative races. ‘The Aiken Standard’ reported Wednesday that former GOP official Virginia “Ginny” Allen admitted to and apologized for the automatic calls in a letter addressed to state Sen. Greg Ryberg and voters.

Twelve South Carolina House members failed to file a state income tax return for at least one year from 1999 to 2007, according to the state Department of Revenue. Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, announced it to his colleagues Tuesday afternoon on the Senate floor. In addition to those 12, three other House members did file returns but owe a combined $21,044 in back taxes. WJBF News Channel 6’s SC Capitol reporter, Robert Kittle, has more.

South Carolina’s public employees may have to prove they’re fit but not flabby to avoid a hike in their health insurance premiums under legislation being tweaked to gather support. Tell us if you think obese workers should have to pay more in insurance premiums, in our web poll.

A bill that would put control of the Employment Security Commission in Gov. Mark Sanford’s hands is up for debate. Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee Chairman Greg Ryberg has introduced a bill that creates a Workforce Department out of the commission and makes it part of the governor’s Cabinet. He’s scheduled a hearing on the bill Wednesday.

South Carolina has a new record that doesn’t sit well with some: it’s the fifth fattest state in the country. One SC State Senator says that’s a major reason why the cost health care is so high. News Channel 6’s Joy Howe has his controversial plan on how to trim the fat.

The chairman of a South Carolina Senate panel that oversees the Employment Security Commission says he wants detailed information on how the agency that calculates unemployment is doing its job.