The South Carolina Policy Council Archive

Just days ahead of Donald Trump’s first public 2024 presidential campaign event in the critical early primary state of South Carolina, a new poll from the South Carolina Policy Council (SCPC)…

A new S.C. Policy Council poll of likely South Carolina voters shows broad and bi-partisan support for school choice legislation expected to be voted on by the S.C. Senate this…

The S.C. Policy Council believes that South Carolina has a bright and prosperous future. By embracing policies that limit government, allow for free enterprise, and stand for individual liberty and…

Last week two important bills passed their respective legislative committees. S.39 would create Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) that provide funding for low-income K-12 students to attend private school, pay for…

South Carolina is getting on the right track when it comes to fiscal responsibility. In 2022, state lawmakers and Gov. Henry McMaster enacted the first-ever state personal income tax cuts,…

Hello! The 2023 S.C. legislative session starts today. To kick off the year, we are rolling out a new project: the Statehouse Update. Each week SCPC will provide updates on…

Ahead of the 2023-24 legislative session, SCPC has been working on a scorecard to evaluate state legislators on our top issues such as tax relief, school choice, government transparency, and…

“Everything secret degenerates, even the administration of justice; nothing is safe that does not show it can bear discussion and publicity.”- Lord Acton . The time for transparency is now…

Note: This story was originally posted on The Nerve. The South Carolina Policy Council – The Nerve’s parent organization – and Americans for Tax Reform, a national taxpayer advocacy group,…

Earlier this year, the S.C. Legislature and Gov. Henry McMaster enacted historic tax relief and reform. This was a critical step in making South Carolina more competitive in a region where…

South Carolina voters will decide on two important constitutional amendments at the ballot this November that would require the state to put more money in its “rainy-day” funds, known technically…

The annual college football game between South Carolina and Georgia kicks off in Columbia this weekend, and local short-term renters couldn’t be happier. A recent search of Airbnb listings in…

Palmetto State voters want expanded healthcare options through increased choice and competition, according to a new poll conducted on behalf of the South Carolina Policy Council. Specifically, voters are in…

Voters in South Carolina want bold action to increase access and choice in public education, according to a new poll conducted on behalf of the South Carolina Policy Council. The survey…

Two proposed constitutional amendments that would increase the state’s reserve “rainy-day” accounts to help South Carolina government manage budget shortfalls have yet to gain popular support, and more voter education…

President Joe Biden recently announced his long-rumored student loan forgiveness plan, a policy that will further burden South Carolina taxpayers and do nothing to address the fundamental problems behind rising…

A focus on the wrong issues has left Biden’s most loyal supporters dropping him College loan forgiveness is the wrong policy for nation, South Carolina President Biden continues to lose…

State government spending has been on the rise – a path that, if not corrected, threatens to undo recent progress on taxes and erode South Carolina’s competitive edge. For that…

By Bryce Fiedler and Vance Ginn, Ph.D. With its vibrant cities, relatively cheap cost of living, and thriving industries like manufacturing, healthcare and hospitality, it’s obvious why South Carolina is…

To encourage more transparency in state government, SCPC has been examining how frequently legislative committee meetings are livestreamed to the public. These committees have the important job of reviewing and…

South Carolina lawmakers returned to Columbia this week to take up the governor’s vetoes on the FY22-23 state budget, which went into effect July 1.   The governor’s veto list – released on…

Taxpayer victory! Historic tax relief passed by the state Legislature and supported by Governor McMaster will immediately help South Carolina “up its game” when it comes to job creation and business…

. . Inflation, gas prices are top concerns for SC voters as lawmakers return to Columbia for special session Inflation and gas prices are among the most pressing concerns for…

Record breaking prices are making everyday life harder for Americans, especially for some in South Carolina. Indeed, by some measurements, the Palmetto State (and the South generally) is experiencing higher…

The South Carolina Policy Council (SCPC) Board of Directors is pleased to announce the selection of an Executive Director to lead South Carolina’s longest-serving organization dedicated to promoting and protecting…

South Carolina’s regular legislative session ends May 12, meaning just three weeks remain (including this one) to send most bills to the governor’s desk for signing. Fortunately, there’s some great…

When the state Supreme Court declared Greenville County’s annual road maintenance fee invalid last year, it triggered a wave of lawsuits challenging similar charges in other municipalities and counties. Instead…

The Senate last week unanimously passed a bill pushing South Carolina’s school boards to livestream their meetings. Despite some issues in its execution, this is a much-needed policy – one that…

When we published our analysis comparing the House and Senate tax cut bills last month, we noted that state government was expecting a $4.6 billion revenue surplus for next fiscal year,…

Two recently filed House bills would temporarily suspend the state gas tax and lesser known “road tax”. The former is paid by all drivers in South Carolina, and currently accounts…