Author: South Carolina Policy Council

Since FY02-2003, the Other Funds category of the budget – basically, statewide fees and fines – has grown by more than $2 billion. These fees and fines are a burden…

Are Retail Incentives Constitutional? A Review of the Sembler and Bass Pro Shops Incentives Legislation   Are economic development incentives constitutional? If the state’s frequent reliance on such incentives to…

Just last week, the House Ways & Means Committee pushed through a 30 cent per pack cigarette tax increase as a proposed proviso in the FY10-2011 budget. The tax increase…

The continuation of our interview with South Carolina Comptroller Richard Eckstrom, and the burden the gargantuan debt will place on future generations. ”Is this political stimulus we’re after, or is…

It goes without saying our political leaders should treat public tax dollars with the same care and consideration they would their own finances. This maxim has never been more necessary…

Sponsored by House Speaker Bobby Harrell and 108 other representatives, the Economic Development Competitiveness Act is the product of Speaker Harrell’s economic development working group. This 49-page bill combines a…

For more than two decades, no general tax increases have been enacted in South Carolina, a fact often cited by legislators seeking to burnish their “friend of the taxpayer” credentials.…

Despite a lot of talk about budget cuts, the 2009 General Assembly ended up passing a budget even larger than that from FY08-2009 – $20.7 billion compared to $19.97 billion.…

In part 1 of our interview with Richard Eckstrom the South Carolina comptroller talks about the long-term impact of the federal stimulus program on the state. With no real, sustainable…

Last week, we indicated which prefiled bills in the House deserved special mention. Now, we turn to the Senate. Perhaps because it’s an election year, or perhaps because they’ve been…

Christmas comes early every year in the Statehouse, as legislators who just can’t wait until January start prefiling bills. Like most of the ideas in the General Assembly, there are…

Christmas comes early every year in the Statehouse, as legislators who just can’t wait until January start prefiling bills. Like most of the ideas in the General Assembly, there are…

Imagine a business plan based on overly optimistic results, an underreporting of costs and a desire to conceal essential data from key stakeholders. If the result does not sound promising,…

As we review the best and worst restructuring legislation of 2009, it’s also time to begin to consider what ideas are likely to resurface during the 2010 session. “Restructuring” generally…

As we review the best and worst restructuring legislation of 2009, it’s also time to begin to consider what ideas are likely to resurface during the 2010 session. “Restructuring” generally refers to…

As we review the best and worst restructuring legislation of 2009, it’s also time to begin to consider what ideas are likely to resurface during the 2010 session. “Restructuring” generally refers to…

As we review thebest and worst restructuring legislation of 2009,it’s also time to begin to consider what ideas are likely to resurface during the 2010 session.   “Restructuring” generally refers…

As we review the best and worst independent business legislation of 2009, it’s also time to begin to consider what ideas are likely to resurface during the 2010 session. Independent businesses are…

As we review the best and worst independent business legislation of 2009,it’s also time to begin to consider what ideas are likely to resurface during the 2010 session.   Independent…

As we review the best and worst elections legislation of 2009, it’s also time to begin to consider what ideas are likely to resurface during the 2010 session. Elections serve a number…

As we review the best and worst property rights’ legislation of 2009, it’s also time to begin to consider what ideas are likely to resurface during the 2010 session.   As our…

As we review the best and worst property rights’ legislation of 2009, it’s also time to begin to consider what ideas are likely to resurface during the 2010 session. As our new…

Fast Facts: South Carolina’s Sales Tax   South Carolina needs sales tax reform that is equitable and encourages economic growth. The best way to achieve this goal is to lower…

As we review the best and worst tax and spending legislation of 2009, it’s also time to begin to consider what ideas are likely to resurface during the 2010 session. The big…

As we review thebest and worst tax and spending legislation of 2009,it’s also time to begin to consider what ideas are likely to resurface during the 2010 session.   The…

25 Ways to Unleash Capitalism in South Carolina Want to know 25 ways we can unleash opportunity, freedom and hope in South Carolina? Here are 25 ideas taken from the…

As we review the best and worst education legislation of 2009, it’s also time to begin to consider what ideas are likely to resurface during the 2010 session. There is…

The Best & Worst to Come: A Review of Transparency Policy for 2009-2010 As we review the best and worst transparency legislation of 2009, it’s also time to begin to consider what…

When taxpayers were promised the $800 billion federal stimulus package was going to create jobs, few realized this meant more government jobs. Some government jobs – police officers and teachers,…

Unleashing Capitalism A Prescription for Economic Prosperity in South Carolina FACT SHEET Capitalism (n): an economic system characterized by private ownership of capital goods and investments determined by private decision;…