South Carolina Policy Council

10/08/2026

For the first time, a sitting school board member faces removal by the Governor of South Carolina.

Read more about what happened in the removal hearing, why the process is unprecedented, and SCPC's recommendations for improved removal hearings.

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 aut...

10/07/2026

Today's S.C. Senate's tax reform subcommittee has begun!

It's great to see that legislators are discussing how to develop a responsible budget (population growth + inflation).

South Carolina's spending has grown at twice the rate of population + inflation!

SCPC will continue to champion a Responsible Budget and we are glad to see our legislators using the same rhetoric.

10/02/2026

Sam Aaron, Research Director for the South Carolina Policy Council, said the race for governor will determine the state’s future direction.

“It’s very important to vote,” Aaron said.

“This is going to determine the direction of the state going forward, and I would encourage everybody to refresh up on the candidates and figure out who aligns with what they support.”

WMBF News

10/01/2026

It's time to eliminate earmarks to unaccountable nonprofits.

South Carolinians are strapped for cash while earmark recipients abandon promises and close off facilities to the public.

Claw back the money.

Additionally, there needs to be a transparent process for lawmaker-requested earmarks that both House and Senate members participate in.

SCPC has long advocated for legislation that would bring thorough public scrutiny to “community projects”.

09/30/2026

The S.C. Supreme Court should clarify Rule 5.4 to ban outside investment in law firms.

Investors care about one thing: their bottom line.

Lawyers are supposed to focus on representing their client to the exclusion of other considerations.

If external party investors are allowed to run law firms, we would see increased litigation, heightened verdicts, and ultimately upward pressure on insurance rates.

Read SCPC's public comment on Rule 5.4 ⬇️

09/29/2026

Our team enjoyed meeting with the Kershaw County Republican Women's Club last night! We discussed the Policy Council's history, purpose and current policy issues including data centers, tax reform, and tort reform.

If you'd like for a member of our team to come speak to your group, you can message our page or reach out at [email protected].

09/22/2026

Civil asset forfeiture law in South Carolina ensures you are guilty until proven innocent.

Your Constitutional right to due process does not apply to civil asset forfeiture.

Law enforcement agencies are incentivized to seize property, as they are awarded the majority of the proceeds.

The property value of seized assets is often less than the cost of litigation, so victims of government theft often give up.

Read more from our latest report ⬇️

“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.” – Articl...

09/22/2026

09/17/2026

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

Among them were four South Carolinians: Thomas Heyward, Jr., Arthur Middleton, Edward Rutledge, and Thomas Lynch, Jr. These men and the other state delegates created the greatest governmental structure the world had ever seen, and has yet to be surpassed.

While we've been celebrating the 250th birthday of our nation’s founding document, the Declaration of Independence, let us not forget to celebrate our government’s founding document, the Constitution. The Declaration proclaimed our principles; the Constitution put them into practice.

The genius of the Constitution is its balance of powers between three branches and between two legislative bodies of Congress. As stated by James Madison in Federalist 51, "ambition made to counteract ambition."

Our Constitution guarantees a limited federal government, with the goal of empowering the people and states, as enumerated by the 9th and 10th amendments.

Some wish to argue about the necessity of George Mason's demand for the Bill of Rights - namely, whether the rights spelled out are natural (that is rights that predate government and therefore do not depend on being reiterated in a written document) or whether their enumeration in the Constitution is necessary because rights are bestowed by a benevolent government (and therefore may be abolished by a miserly one). These rights are natural but require protection in the Constitution to ensure that rogue bureaucrats, politicians, and judges do not trample upon them.

Not every clause of our Constitution was perfect, but in the delegate’s wisdom, they created an amendment process that has allowed our nation to hew closer to our nation's first “promissory note” - the Declaration of Independence.

At the Policy Council, we are particularly thankful for the First Amendment of the Constitution, which allows us the ability to speak freely and to petition our government for a redress of grievances.

We owe an eternal debt of gratitude to those who came before us and bestowed upon our nation this enduring structure of government. As stewards of this inheritance, it is our duty to educate the next generation so that they might continue the great American experiment.

-Robert Cathcart, SCPC CEO

09/16/2026

Data centers require increased energy generation.

Additional generation requires energy companies to build new power plants.

If data centers require new power plant construction, they should pay the additional construction cost.

That’s free market policy.