AIKEN, S.C. - Time is running out for the 77,000 people who collect unemployment benefits in South Carolina.

On Thursday the state must stop printing checks unless Governor Mark Sanford requests a $146-million federal loan to bail out the state's unemployment agency.

Governor Mark Sanford says he will not request that $146- million federal loan until he has it in writing that the Employment Security Commission will agree to an audit by the state's watchdog agency.

State Representatives Bill Clyburn and Jim Stewart say Governor Mark Sanford's request for a state audit of the Employment Security Commission is the right thing to do.

"The governor says they say there are 77,000 people unemployed and there's 55,000 posted jobs but there's not enough information on the people who need to work to match them with jobs,” said Stewart

Stewart and Clyburn say the audit would help clear that up and will also give businesses planning to locate in South Carolina an idea about the number of potential employees and their job skills.

"Hopefully they'll agree to it and we can get money to these people and match them with jobs, said Stewart.

"Right now we're close to deadline and it needs to be signed,” said Clyburn.

If Sanford and the state reach an agreement the loan would pay unemployment benefits through March.

The Employment Security Commission has agreed to be audited by the U.S. Labor Department.

The commission chief Ted Halley said another audit requested by Sanford is fine.

In November, South Carolina reported the nation's third-worst unemployment rate at 8.4 percent.