Research

  • South Carolina's roads: Spending, quality, and safety in question

    South Carolina has long struggled to maintain adequate roads, and citizens are well aware of the issue. In 2017, public frustration over poor road conditions pushed the Legislature to approve the first gas-tax increase in 30 years. The revenue was intended to improve infrastructure and bring South Carolina’s road quality...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    October 03, 2025

  • South Carolina must learn from Kansas’ tax reform failures

    For years, critics have pointed to Kansas as a failed tax experiment—“cut taxes and calamity follows.” That’s a myth. The real problem wasn’t the tax cuts; it was the refusal to restrain spending. Kansas lowered income-tax rates in 2012 but let government outlays surge. By 2017, deficits ballooned, and lawmakers...
    Vance Ginn Ph.D.

    Written by
    September 25, 2025

  • Mandatory grading floors allow mediocrity in K-12 education

    South Carolina ranks 43rd in the U.S. in K-12 public education performance. It’s no surprise, then, that the South Carolina Policy Council’s recent poll found 47% of residents are dissatisfied with K-12 public education.  We also found that 51% of S.C. voters support legislation prohibiting public schools from adopting grading...
    Brendan Connors

    Written by
    August 30, 2025

  • The nuclear solution to S.C.’s energy problem

    With the signage of the S.C. Energy Security Act H.3309, utilities are moving fast to put natural gas plant construction plans into action. While the state relies on nuclear reactors for over half of its energy baseload, the failure of V.C. Summer reactors 2 and 3 has oriented utilities away...
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    August 22, 2025

  • Insights from our pollster: S.C. voters support tax relief, fiscal discipline, and transparency

    SC Policy Council Poll, July 21–25, 2025 | n = 1,200 Registered Voters | MOE ±2.77%   South Carolina's electorate is sending a clear message. They want a government that spends less, taxes smarter, and operates in the open. The latest South Carolina Policy Council Poll reveals overwhelming support for...
    Randy Ellison

    Written by
    August 12, 2025

  • 2025 Citizen Leadership Awards announced!

    The South Carolina Policy Council is proud to announce the recipients of our inaugural Citizen Leadership Award. These individuals and their organizations were instrumental in leading the fight against oppressive liquor liability laws that were hampering businesses all over the state. Their efforts culminated in the passage of H.3430 during...
    Neil Wolin

    Written by
    August 04, 2025

  • SCPC mourns the loss of Shirley W. Roe

    The South Carolina Policy Council is deeply saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of Shirley W. Roe, whom we deeply respected and to whom we owe an enduring debt of gratitude.
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    July 29, 2025

  • The South Carolina Policy Council’s Summer Poll

    With the first half of the 2025-26 legislative session in the rearview mirror, the South Carolina Policy Council is polling South Carolinians to see where they stand on the issues the legislature addressed last year and aim to address in 2026.  With a gubernatorial race on the horizon and both...
    Sam Aaron

    Written by
    July 28, 2025

  • DOGE in SC: More bureaucratic bloat will not fix government waste

    The federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is new and trendy, but the desire for efficient and effective limited governance is rooted in America’s founding principles that the South Carolina Policy Council works to uphold.  
    Brendan Connors

    Written by
    July 24, 2025

  • South Carolina Ranks 18th for Business—Here’s How to Compete with the Top States

    North Carolina, Texas, and Florida are winning with pro-growth policies. South Carolina should follow their lead—and do more.   The CNBC Top States for Business 2025 rankings are out, and once again, the message is clear: economic freedom wins. North Carolina took the top spot, followed by Texas at number...
    Vance Ginn Ph.D.

    Written by
    July 17, 2025