Protect SC businesses and employees from predatory COVID lawsuits

Quality of Life
Blog · June 5, 2020

Businesses in South Carolina are slowly reopening, but optimism about a post-Great Suppression economic revival is being dampened by businesses afraid of being sued into bankruptcy should someone get sick and “dial all 9’s” (or some other trial lawyer of choice). Although South Carolina’s businesses have been fighting for years to reform the tort system,

Critics of ‘Certificate of Need’ regulations say COVID-19 pandemic shows why it needs to be repealed

Healthcare
Blog · June 1, 2020

PPI Senior Fellow Oran Smith was interviewed by WIS News 10 regarding the potential for a full repeal of CON laws in light of COVID-19 and action taken by Governor McMaster. PPI Visiting Fellow Dr. Marcelo Hochman was also interviewed. This article, and accompanying video, originally appeared on WIS News 10. Written by Jason Raven.  Dr.

Will South Carolina Learn COVID’s Tax & Budget Lessons?

Tax & Budget
Blog · May 27, 2020

As South Carolina budget writers continue to warily watch COVID-19’s impact on state revenue projections, what better time to take a look at how South Carolina generates tax revenue. Tax economists generally advocate for a “3-legged” stool of taxation, a balanced combination of income, consumption (sales), and property taxes, to create revenue stability across the

Learning from example: When should South Carolina’s schools re-open?

Education
Blog · May 21, 2020

As South Carolina deliberates over an array of options for how and when to get students physically back in school without further loss of academic progress, we have solid examples from other states and other countries on ways to open schools safely. South Carolina’s AccelerateEd task force has floated the possibility of opening schools as

LETTER: Palmetto Promise joins FGA in calling for removal of MOE provision in COVID legislation

Healthcare
Blog · May 21, 2020

Palmetto Promise Institute joined the Federation for Government Accountability (FGA) and other partner organizations in asking lawmakers on Capitol Hill to block the so-called “maintenance of effort” (MOE) provision in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). This provision would cause irreparable harm to state budgets. You can read the letter below.  May 21, 2020 The

LETTER: PPI calls on US lawmakers to pass legislation to help restart the American economy

Quality of Life
Blog · May 18, 2020

Palmetto Promise Institute signed onto a letter, joining 15 other organizations, calling on lawmakers to support the “Getting Americans Back to Work Act”, limiting federal unemployment benefits to the applicant’s last paycheck. This bill will help restart the American economy.  May 18, 2020 United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative, We, the

Video: COVID-19 Exposes South Carolina’s Outdated “CON” Laws

Healthcare
May 15, 2020

Once it became clear that COVID-19 could overwhelm our hospitals, Governor McMaster temporarily waived SC regulations that restrict hospitals and their ability to add capacity to their facilities. According to current law, SC hospitals and medical practices cannot add any beds to their facility without obtaining approval from the state. Why do we put these

SC Lawmakers temporarily fund state government as SC moves toward the “next normal”

Tax & Budget
Blog · May 15, 2020

We hope this message finds you safe as South Carolina slowly but surely moves towards the “next normal.” Governor McMaster has now allowed indoor restaurant dining and has set a date of next week for the opening of close-contact businesses like hair and nail salons.  We’re encouraged to see folks able to get back to work

LETTER: PPI Joins Groups Calling for COVID-19 Relief for Private Schools

Education
Blog · May 13, 2020

Palmetto Promise signed onto a letter to Capitol Hill calling on lawmakers to give COVID relief to private schools. Some of the requests in the letter include:  “Temporary education tax credit.” Families paying private school tuition for the 2019 and 2020 tax years should get a 50 percent tax credit on that tuition.  “Temporary charitable

Palmetto Promise Institute Unveils Economic “Jumpstart” Plan

Quality of Life
May 12, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE COLUMBIA, SC (May 12, 2020) – Palmetto Promise Institute, an independent public policy research foundation, released a report today outlining 12 steps to jumpstart South Carolina’s economy. “These 12 common sense ideas are the spark our state’s economic engine needs,” Palmetto Promise CEO Ellen Weaver said in releasing the list. “Each one