On Tuesday, members of the General Assembly were called to Columbia for a special session. At issue was a glitch in the law that unexpectedly allowed unemployment benefits to run out for nearly 7,000 people.

House and Senate members took a quick vote on the issue and promised that those who missed benefit checks because of the oversight will now get them.

At that point, Republican Greg Delleney of Chester stood up and offered a resolution to impeach Sanford. His resolution accuses Sanford of serious misconduct related to his June disappearance. At that time, Sanford went to see a mistress in Argentina, but told his own staff that he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. Thank you for participating. Do you think Gov. Mark Sanford should be impeached? Do you think Gov. Mark Sanford should be impeached? Yes No Not sure

Delleney has said that conduct amounts to dereliction of duty and calls for swift action. However, House leadership disagreed.

House Speaker Republican Bobby Harrell ruled Delleney's resolution out of order. He told lawmakers that under the rules of the special session, only certain issues were allowed on the agenda and that did not include any action against the governor.

Several lawmakers called the resolution premature and argued that the House should wait until the State Ethics Committee finishes its investigation into the governor’s travel records before they act. That ethics committee report is expected in the next few weeks.

However, Sanford is currently in a battle to keep the report out of the hands of lawmakers. The state Supreme Court has heard arguments on both sides but has not ruled yet.

The ethics committee is investigating the governor's use of state planes, including the purchasing of first-class tickets on several overseas trips.

Rock Hill Rep. Gary Simrill said the impeachment resolution has nothing to do with the governor's travel, though. Simrill is one of three co-sponsors to Delleney's resolution. He said the governor should be removed from office because he deceived his staff and the public by his planned disappearance last summer.

Simrill said waiting until next year to take up this serious issue would only delay other vital business.

"This state is hurting economically like many other states are. I think all the focus should be on moving the state forward, not on some anchor that's pulling us behind," Simrill said.

When Delleney's resolution was denied, House leaders told him he can try to pre-file it in late November, which would set the stage for an impeachment battle in January when lawmakers return for the regular session.

Eyewitness News contacted Sanford's office Tuesday afternoon. Chief spokesman Ben Fox said Sanford has no comment at this time.

Previous Stories: October 20, 2009: Governor Leads Conversation On Unemployment Problem October 7, 2009: Sanford Says Constituents Care More About Jobs Than Ethics Probe October 2, 2009: SC Supreme Court To Review Gov's Ethics Arguments September 17, 2009: S.C. Gov Tours Lancaster School He Considered Closing, Pushes Reform September 9, 2009: 60 S.C. House Republicans Call On Governor To Resign September 4, 2009: Republicans May Speak Out Collectively Against Sanford Next Week August 28, 2009: Support Grows For Sanford Impeachment August 27, 2009: S.C. Gov. Lashes Out; SLED Says His Life Threatened August 26, 2009: Lawmakers Expect To Push Gov. Sanford Out Of Office August 19, 2009: S.C. Governor Seeking Forgiveness, Help With Agenda August 18, 2009: Gov. Sanford's Wife Talks To Vogue August 13, 2009: S.C. Attorney General Wants Probe Of Gov. Flights August 11, 2009: S.C. Gov. Justifies 1st-Class Flights, State Plane Use July 21, 2009: Sanford Hit With Questions, Criticism At Appearance July 19, 2009: Gov. Sanford Writes About Scandal