What to watch in 2012

The new legislative session has officially begun, and scores of bills are scheduled for consideration. Here are just a few we’re keeping our eyes on. TRANSPARENCY H.4432 wouldn’t kill the “incentives racket” whereby well-positioned companies lobby for, and get, millions in taxpayer-supported favors that don’t apply to their competitors. What it would do is bring [...]

Best & Worst of 2011

With the official end of the 2011 legislative session, we’re releasing the third installment in our annual series chronicling the best and worst legislation of the year.

The South Carolina General Assembly takes up a bewildering array of bills every year, and it’s beyond the capacity of even informed citizens to keep up with them all. With that in mind, the Policy Council provides here a review of significant bills and resolutions for the 2011 session. Our list isn’t exhaustive – and, for the sake of readability, is briefer than in past years – but it does cover major legislation on spending, taxation, economic development, education, health care, and government reform and restructuring.

Best and Worst of the 2011 Session Prefiled Bills

With a new session comes more opportunities for the General Assembly to pass legislation impacting the lives of South Carolinians. As the stimulus money comes off the books this year, the legislative session is expected to focus on how to fill the gap. As can be expected, there are a variety of good and bad bills that attempt to fix that problem.

Best & Worst Preview: 2010

In preparation for the release of our annual Best & Worst legislative review next week, here is a preview of the best of the best and the worst of the worst of 2010. If anything, legislators outdid themselves in 2010 by increasing spending, refusing to record votes and raising taxes. They also failed to pass any form of education or health care reform.

The Way Too Early Best and Worst of 2010: A Look at What’s Ahead in the Senate

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 paying attention, senators prefiled a variety of good bills that merit consideration in 2010. Still, there are more than enough bad bills to be wary [...]

The Way Too Early Best and Worst of 2010: A Look at What’s Ahead in the House

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 a whole lot more bad than good. But it’s interesting to look at what bills were prefiled as the 2010 House session begins today.   [...]

The Best and Worst to Come: A Review of Restructuring Legislation for 2009-2010

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 reforms designed to bring about a more equitable balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of state government. In South Carolina, the legislative [...]

The Best and Worst to Come: A Review of Restructuring Legislation for 2009-2010

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 to reforms designed to bring about a more equitable balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of state government. In South Carolina, the [...]

The Best & Worst to Come: A Review of Independent Business Legislation for 2009-2010

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 the backbone of South Carolina’s economy and the key to increasing wealth and creating private sector jobs. According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses [...]

The Best & Worst to Come: A Review of Elections Legislation for 2009-2010

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 of purposes in a free democracy. To begin with, they keep incumbents in check and provide an opportunity for voters to determine which politicians should [...]