The Senate is set to begin debate on the budget passed by the Senate Finance Committee last week. Here’s what you should know about it: The total projected budget is…
The House of Representatives has finally unveiled their amendment to the Department of Administration bill – after crafting it behind closed doors for more than two months. It sailed through…
Our coverage of the health care debate, beginning in October of last year, dispelled the myth of a free market health exchange and highlighted the growing costs associated with the…
You probably are like many other South Carolinians who haven’t heard of the little-known OPEB trust fund. The OPEB, Other Post Employment Benefits, trust funds consists of: a health insurance…
The House, Senate Finance Committee, and Governor Haley all have something in common: each has expressed a commitment to deepening Charleston’s port. Although the governor’s conviction fell into question late…
Well, we’ve seen an uptick in employment, or a downtick in unemployment – however you want to think about it. With an unemployment rate of 8.9 percent, South Carolina…
The Superintendent of the Department of Education (DOE) and lawmakers had an interesting discussion at the Senate Finance Committee meeting yesterday: why does the House-passed budget include the First Steps…
UNFORTUNATELY, THE LATTER State legislators eager to escape Obamacare’s restrictive mandates have united behind the interstate healthcare compact, a single piece of state legislation they expect to free them from…
The Comptroller General (CG) appeared before the Senate Finance Constitutional and Criminal Justice Subcommittee to provide his budget request for FY 13. When the CG stated he had no request…
Yesterday, newly sworn in Lieutenant Governor Glenn McConnell presented the budget for his office to the Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. His major request to the subcommittee was…
The Senate Finance Committee met yesterday to hear budget testimony from the Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) and the Office of State Budget (OSB). You can view the PowerPoint presentation…
A LOT OF TALK. ALMOST NO RESULT. There are essentially two strategies in diplomatic negotiations. One is to ask for more than you know you’re likely to get, then to…
Each year during the budget process, state lawmakers take “left over” money from the General Fund (we’ve talked about how we feel about the idea of “left over” taxpayer money…
As recently reported by The Nerve, a bill that establishes a steady source of funding for the Arts Commission, S. 1210, has passed through the Senate Education K-12 Subcommittee. The…
Two proposed provisos – both of which failed – would have required the State Superintendent of Education to accept federal education funding. The first proviso would have required the Superintendent…
Next year, the state of South Carolina will receive around $25 million dollars from the National Mortgage Settlement, a joint federal-state lawsuit against loan servicers awarded to parties affected by…
With the budget passed by the House of Representatives in hand, we’ve been able to make some early growth calculations: the total projected budget of $22, 856, 794, 900 (as…
As we’ve reported in the past, South Carolina’s tax rates are among the least competitive in the nation. Middle class families pay an inordinately high top rate, manufacturers are crippled…
On Wednesday the House passed the budget by a vote of 115-0. The bill contains, among other things, pay raises for state employees, millions of dollars for the state’s deal…
The House is currently debating the budget recommended by the Ways and Means committee after months of hearings. With just over $535 million in “new” recurring revenue[1], lawmakers justify spending…
Amazingly, now even the Arts Commission is trying to get funding for “economic development” programs. We found this tidbit in the Arts Commission’s FY12-13 budget request: Artist Development: The agency…
Most of us remember a time when our parents encouraged us to eat healthy things like fresh vegetables, and discouraged us from eating too much processed and otherwise “fast” food.…
The House Ways and Means committee officially released their FY 12 – 13 budget on Tuesday. You can find the bill here. The bill, coming after weeks of budget hearings…
The law stipulates the governor write the budget and that the General Assembly amend this document. Therefore, the governor is responsible for outlining the state’s spending priorities. Instead of curbing…
Despite constant proclamations from state officials about their commitment to transparency, the Policy Council and The Nerve have thoroughly documented how difficult it is in South Carolina to get state…
The governor’s budget is only the first in a series of budget drafts before we arrive at the final state budget later in the spring. Generally – in fact, without…
With all of Columbia abuzz about government restructuring, H.4625 has passed through the House Judicial Committee without incident. As the Department of Transportation’s budget woes have come to light, state…
Budget Watch: What’s in the Senate Finance Budget?
The Senate is set to begin debate on the budget passed by the Senate Finance Committee last week. Here’s what you should know about it: The total projected budget is…
UPDATE: The House version of the DOA bill
The House of Representatives has finally unveiled their amendment to the Department of Administration bill – after crafting it behind closed doors for more than two months. It sailed through…
Health and Human Services Director agrees with the Policy Council
Our coverage of the health care debate, beginning in October of last year, dispelled the myth of a free market health exchange and highlighted the growing costs associated with the…
Who should manage the OPEB funds?
You probably are like many other South Carolinians who haven’t heard of the little-known OPEB trust fund. The OPEB, Other Post Employment Benefits, trust funds consists of: a health insurance…
Port-Deepening: Something Everyone Agrees On
The House, Senate Finance Committee, and Governor Haley all have something in common: each has expressed a commitment to deepening Charleston’s port. Although the governor’s conviction fell into question late…
Unemployment has fallen – but why?
Well, we’ve seen an uptick in employment, or a downtick in unemployment – however you want to think about it. With an unemployment rate of 8.9 percent, South Carolina…
Here’s how complicated state government can be
The Superintendent of the Department of Education (DOE) and lawmakers had an interesting discussion at the Senate Finance Committee meeting yesterday: why does the House-passed budget include the First Steps…
An Interstate Compact: Serious option or political gesture?
UNFORTUNATELY, THE LATTER State legislators eager to escape Obamacare’s restrictive mandates have united behind the interstate healthcare compact, a single piece of state legislation they expect to free them from…
Comptroller General, nonprofit present budget requests
The Comptroller General (CG) appeared before the Senate Finance Constitutional and Criminal Justice Subcommittee to provide his budget request for FY 13. When the CG stated he had no request…
New Lt. Governor makes first funding request
Yesterday, newly sworn in Lieutenant Governor Glenn McConnell presented the budget for his office to the Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. His major request to the subcommittee was…
Finance Committee Has Lots of Ideas for Windfall
The Senate Finance Committee met yesterday to hear budget testimony from the Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) and the Office of State Budget (OSB). You can view the PowerPoint presentation…
School Choice in South Carolina: A Short History
A LOT OF TALK. ALMOST NO RESULT. There are essentially two strategies in diplomatic negotiations. One is to ask for more than you know you’re likely to get, then to…
House Budget Provio 90.20, or “The Slush Fund”
Each year during the budget process, state lawmakers take “left over” money from the General Fund (we’ve talked about how we feel about the idea of “left over” taxpayer money…
Funding the Arts Commission
As recently reported by The Nerve, a bill that establishes a steady source of funding for the Arts Commission, S. 1210, has passed through the Senate Education K-12 Subcommittee. The…
Education Provisos in the House Budget
Two proposed provisos – both of which failed – would have required the State Superintendent of Education to accept federal education funding. The first proviso would have required the Superintendent…
The House Budget’s Five Worst Economic Development Provisos
Next year, the state of South Carolina will receive around $25 million dollars from the National Mortgage Settlement, a joint federal-state lawsuit against loan servicers awarded to parties affected by…
The House Budget Passed Unanimously. Here’s Why.
Last week, the South Carolina House passed its budget on second reading by a vote of 117 to 0. Then members passed it on third reading by a vote of…
House Passes Largest Budget in State History
With the budget passed by the House of Representatives in hand, we’ve been able to make some early growth calculations: the total projected budget of $22, 856, 794, 900 (as…
The House Tax Plan: True Reform or Something Else?
As we’ve reported in the past, South Carolina’s tax rates are among the least competitive in the nation. Middle class families pay an inordinately high top rate, manufacturers are crippled…
House Passes Budget
On Wednesday the House passed the budget by a vote of 115-0. The bill contains, among other things, pay raises for state employees, millions of dollars for the state’s deal…
Ways and Means Budget Largest in State History – Yet Again
The House is currently debating the budget recommended by the Ways and Means committee after months of hearings. With just over $535 million in “new” recurring revenue[1], lawmakers justify spending…
Economic development for the Arts Commission?
Amazingly, now even the Arts Commission is trying to get funding for “economic development” programs. We found this tidbit in the Arts Commission’s FY12-13 budget request: Artist Development: The agency…
USC Greenville Medical School
The House appears to be set to send $17.2 million to the USC Greenville School of Medicine.
Eat Your Vegetables!
Most of us remember a time when our parents encouraged us to eat healthy things like fresh vegetables, and discouraged us from eating too much processed and otherwise “fast” food.…
The House meets today for budget debate
The House Ways and Means committee officially released their FY 12 – 13 budget on Tuesday. You can find the bill here. The bill, coming after weeks of budget hearings…
The Best and the Worst of the Executive Budget
The law stipulates the governor write the budget and that the General Assembly amend this document. Therefore, the governor is responsible for outlining the state’s spending priorities. Instead of curbing…
State Government Charges for Public Information
Despite constant proclamations from state officials about their commitment to transparency, the Policy Council and The Nerve have thoroughly documented how difficult it is in South Carolina to get state…
The Governor’s Budget – A Sign of What’s to Come?
The governor’s budget is only the first in a series of budget drafts before we arrive at the final state budget later in the spring. Generally – in fact, without…
Freedom of Information Not Quite Free
Watch The Nerve‘s Rick Brundrett discuss South Carolina’s FOIA laws on WCBD. Read his latest article on the subject here!
Pointless DoT Restructuring?
With all of Columbia abuzz about government restructuring, H.4625 has passed through the House Judicial Committee without incident. As the Department of Transportation’s budget woes have come to light, state…