Research

  • Poll: SC voters support school choice legislation, Policy Council urges passage

    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 week. The bill (S.39) is expected to include privately-funded scholarships as well as taxpayer-supported scholarships for low-income students. The Policy...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    January 25, 2023

  • Poll: South Carolina no longer sold on Trump; Biden lukewarm with Democrats

    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) shows Palmetto State voters are no longer sold on the former president. And in a head-to-head matchup with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis,...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    January 25, 2023

  • Poll: SC voters support key tax and education reforms, oppose abortion ban

    As Gov. Henry McMaster delivers his State of the State address Wednesday evening, a new S.C. Policy Council poll reveals voters’ opinions on key state issues involving taxes, education and abortion. It also shows that South Carolinians continue to suffer the impacts of inflation, and that most SC voters believe...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    January 25, 2023

  • The 2024 SC Sustainable Budget

    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, letting residents keep more of their hard-earned money and making South Carolina more competitive for business. Last year, voters also...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    January 12, 2023

  • Survey results – legislative scorecard

    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 legal reform. In an effort to make this project a success, we asked for the input of our membership. A...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    December 15, 2022

  • Seven steps to make S.C. government more transparent

    “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
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    December 01, 2022

  • How much is your SC tax cut worth? New Policy Council website has some answers

    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 neighboring states have lower or no state income tax. The new law slashes our state personal income tax, collapsing the lower...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    October 10, 2022

  • Spread the word: Two key amendments on SC ballot

    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 as the General Reserve Fund and Capital Reserve Fund. The Policy Council supports both amendments, and we need your help to get...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    October 03, 2022

  • Bridging the divide: A balanced approach to short-term rental regulation

    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 Columbia indicated that far more homes were booked ahead for gameday weekend than the weekend prior (when the UofSC football team was out of...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    September 14, 2022

  • Poll: Expanded healthcare choices key for SC voters

    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 favor of ending the state’s Certificate of Need (CON) requirement for hospitals and healthcare facilities. They also strongly support giving...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    September 09, 2022