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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina legislators have postponed a meeting to consider giving businesses a tax break to hire unemployed workers.

The proposal would allow businesses to take a tax credit for hiring a South Carolina resident who's been out of work for at least a month. Businesses could claim up to $2,400 per worker over two years. It would break down to a $100 per worker for each month the worker remains in the job, for up to 24 months.

The state's jobless rate was 10.5 percent in January.

Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler's bill was up for debate Tuesday by a Senate subcommittee, but the meeting was postponed as the full Senate continued debating roll call voting.

The bill passed the Senate unanimously last year and died in the House.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)