Research - South Carolina Policy Council

Research

Continuing the American tradition

Alexis DeTocqueville spoke of America as a nation of builders and innovators, a people who, rather than turning to government, work together to solve problems. In Volume II, Part II, Chapter 5 of Democracy in America he said:

Written by Robert Cathcart
October 09, 2026

Continuing the American tradition

Alexis DeTocqueville spoke of America as a nation of builders and innovators, a people who, rather than turning to government, work together to solve problems. In Volume II, Part II, Chapter 5 of Democracy in America he said:

Written by Robert Cathcart
October 09, 2026
An unprecedented hearing

On Monday, September 28, three panelists selected by Governor McMaster held a first of its kind hearing to give Charleston County School District Trustee Darlene Dunmeyer-Roberson the ability to refute allegations of misconduct. This was the first hearing of its type to take place, as a 2022 law authorizing the...

Written by Robert Cathcart
October 02, 2026
SCPC submits comments to South Carolina Supreme Court on Rule 5.4

On September 10, 2026, the South Carolina Supreme Court requested written comments on Rule 5.4 of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Rule 5.4 governs how lawyers remain professionally independent by banning attorneys from sharing fees with non-attorneys. The intent behind the rule is to ensure that attorneys' ethical duties to their...

Written by Robert Cathcart
September 25, 2026
Civil asset forfeiture: Seize first, prove later

“The privileges and immunities of citizens of this State and of the United States under this Constitution shall not be abridged, nor shall any person be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.” –...

Written by Brendan Connors
September 19, 2026
SCPC celebrates Constitution Day

Today we celebrate Constitution Day. On September 17, 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the United States Constitution in Philadelphia.

Written by Robert Cathcart
September 17, 2026
Who should pay for South Carolina’s data center growth?

South Carolina is facing unprecedented growth from large transformational energy customers such as expanding and newly planned data centers, and residential ratepayers across the state are concerned.

Written by Neil Wolin
September 12, 2026
We need a codified earmarks process to protect S.C. taxpayers

By now, the budgetary dust has settled across the state, as the S.C. Legislature passed a general appropriations act and a supplemental appropriations act for this fiscal year allocating an additional $351 million to lawmakers’ pet projects, also known as earmarks. An earmark typically is a budget request made by...

Written by Sam Aaron
September 03, 2026
These provisos deserve attention

A previous version of this article had 1A.55 under the wrong section. Since the Senate amendment was not adopted, the House removing that amendment now places it in the "bad proviso actions" section. One often overlooked part of the state budget is the long list of “provisos”, which are supposed to be...

Written by Neil Wolin
August 27, 2026
SCPC announces new CEO

The Policy Council is pleased to announce that Robert Cathcart has been selected to serve as our new President & CEO. Robert is excited to begin on September 8, taking over for Michael Burris who has served as our President & CEO since 2024.

Written by South Carolina Policy Council Team
August 24, 2026
Governor McMaster’s FY27 budget vetoes

On August 17, 2026, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster released his list of line-item vetoes in the budget approved by the General Assembly the previous week. Seven of the first nine vetoes are effectively cleanup vetoes. Several of these vetoes eliminate provisos that had already been passed into permanent law,...

Written by Sam Aaron
August 19, 2026