Research

  • Poll: SCPC readers strongly favor tax and judicial reforms, expanding school choice

    Major policy reforms sit at critical junctures in the S.C. Statehouse. With less than two weeks left in the regular 2023-24 legislative session, we found that many have the strong support of South Carolinians hoping to see them cross the finish line.  The data comes from an internal survey of...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    April 30, 2024

  • Release: SC Policy Council, SC Public Interest Foundation file ethics complaint against Scout Motors

    MEDIA RELEASE April 29, 2024 The South Carolina Policy Council and South Carolina Public Interest Foundation have jointly requested that the S.C. State Ethics Commission investigate whether Scout Motors Inc. violated state ethics law in connection with the nearly $1.3 billion state appropriation last year for the company’s assembly plant...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    April 29, 2024

  • Open enrollment bill would increase student opportunity, parental choice

    It is no secret that South Carolina lags behind much of the nation in education. A recent ranking by the U.S. News & World Report put our school system at 42nd in the United States. With the influx of people moving into the Southeast from other states, work must be...
    William Morton

    Written by
    April 26, 2024

  • EVENT: School Board Candidates and Community⁠⁠ Primer

    *Calling all school board members, candidates, and concerned Carolinians!*  Do you care about the state of education in your school district? Are you concerned for the students who are being brought up in A Nation At Risk? Whether you are a seasoned school board member, a new-to-advocacy community member, or anything...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    April 26, 2024

  • Statehouse Update Apr 23-25

    Update 4/26/24: Several adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week. With just three weeks left in the regular session, the pace has picked up at the Statehouse as legislators work to turn bills into law. Of those is the proposed FY25 state budget,...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    April 23, 2024

  • Transparency efforts could illuminate SC’s budget process

    Giving citizens a clearer picture of where their tax dollars are going, and why As a research intern for the S.C. Policy Council, I attended many legislative hearings over the spring months to learn about the state’s next budget. My objectives were twofold: see firsthand how the budget is constructed...
    Ella Williams

    Written by
    April 19, 2024

  • Statehouse Update Apr 16-18

    Update 4/19/24: Several adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week. With just four weeks left in the regular session, things are ramping up at the Statehouse to get bills over the finish line. On the calendar this week are several noteworthy proposals, including...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    April 16, 2024

  • Mystery money: How to return the $1.8 billion to taxpayers

    Update 4/19/24: The Senate Finance subcommittee investigating the $1.8 billion issued an interim report on Tuesday. It recommends a forensic audit of the bank account in question, legislation to make the State Auditor more independent, and a constitutional amendment to make the Treasurer an appointed position instead of being elected by...
    Bryce Fiedler

    Written by
    April 12, 2024

  • Bills to watch ahead of this year's crossover deadline

    Update 4/5/24: Bills that passed or made progress this week are specified below.  As we near the end of South Carolina’s 2024 legislative session, a critical deadline is on the horizon. Bills that want a chance of becoming law this year must receive initial passage in the House or Senate by...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    April 02, 2024

  • Statehouse Update Apr 2-4

    Update 4/5/24: Several adjustments were made to this summary to reflect developments that occurred during the week. Important update! South Carolina’s “crossover” deadline is just around the corner. Bills that haven’t passed at least one chamber, House or Senate, by April 10 are effectively dead for the year. While the...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    April 02, 2024