Latest Updates

SC lags behind northern neighbor when it comes to picking judges

If you’ve followed the judicial reform discussion for much time, you’ve probably heard that South Carolina is one of two states where judges are legislatively elected, the other being Virginia. But a review by SCPC found large differences between the two when it comes to policy and procedure. In a few...

Bryce Fiedler

Written by
September 23, 2023

  • SC lags behind northern neighbor when it comes to picking judges

    If you’ve followed the judicial reform discussion for much time, you’ve probably heard that South Carolina is one of two states where judges are legislatively elected, the other being Virginia. But a review by SCPC found large differences between the two when it comes to policy and procedure. In a few...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    September 23, 2023

  • 2023 Legislative Scorecard

    South Carolina is embarking on a path toward a brighter future – and adopting key free-market policies will be key to this journey. The South Carolina Policy Council’s 2023-24 Legislative Scorecard was created to assist in this effort and promote the organization’s principles of limited government, free enterprise, and individual...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    August 31, 2023

  • Keep an eye on these educational reforms in 2024

    Recently, we published an overview of South Carolina's national rankings across different performance indicators in education. We found that South Carolina lags behind other states when it comes to test scores, graduation rates, and reading proficiency for eighth-grade students.  The good news is that major educational reforms are finally making progress,...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    August 18, 2023

  • South Carolina's educational shortcomings (and a brighter future ahead)

    It's no secret that South Carolina ranks behind other states when it comes to education. With school starting back up this month, let’s look at some recent education figures and talk about what can be done to turn things around.
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    August 04, 2023

  • Transparency check-in: streaming at the Statehouse (2023)

    With the 2023 regular legislative session concluded, now is a great time to follow up on transparency efforts made by the General Assembly to livestream their committee meetings, an initiative we began last summer.
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    July 19, 2023

  • 2024 a critical year as judicial reform gains steam

    A reform effort to tackle one of South Carolina’s most urgent issues is gaining major steam.   On Monday, S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson hosted a public discussion in Charleston with more than 30 state legislators to discuss judicial reform, urging members to address longstanding problems with how South Carolina...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    July 14, 2023

  • South Carolina needs more freedom, study shows

    Another study has found that South Carolina relies heavily on government aid compared to other states, ranking 43rd in terms of government independence, according to WalletHub’s June report. When looking at overall dependency (financial, government, job-market, international and personal vice dependency), South Carolina ranks sixth worst in the nation.  ...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    June 30, 2023

  • Fast facts: Why SC needs speedy tax relief

    With the passage of South Carolina’s FY23-24 budget – which grows state government considerably and totals $41 billion in combined funds and $13.7 billion in state funds – it's time for a serious discussion on spending, tax reform, and keeping our state on the right track. 
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    June 23, 2023

  • Here's what’s in SC’s next budget (and how it can be better)

    Update 6.23.23: The conference committee's budget document on the Statehouse website appears underrepresent the total "other funds" budget figure. Using figures from the state Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, the overall budget is approximately $41 billion.  After weeks of negotiations among House and Senate leaders, the General Assembly on Wednesday passed a...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    June 17, 2023

  • Statehouse Update June 7-9

    Despite the regular session ending last month, legislative business has carried on into the summer as the budget, outstanding bills, and vetoes from the governor draw lawmakers back to Columbia. Here are this week's major highlights.  
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    June 09, 2023