What a year 2025 has been for the state of South Carolina! With a 2026 election cycle well underway (including a series of Statehouse special elections in recent days) and a busy initial year of the two-year legislative session, there has been no shortage of political activity. As we prepare for the 2026 legislative session, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the impact Palmetto Promise Institute has had on
This column by Palmetto Promise President & CEO Wendy Damron was originally published in FitsNews. When most Americans think of biotech and the Carolinas, they immediately imagine North Carolina and its famous “Research Triangle” hub of labs and universities. But increasingly, they ought to take some advice from the billboards dotting I-95 — and look
After weeks of negotiation and deliberation, President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” passed the United States House of Representatives this week. Palmetto Promise is glad to see so many important components of this legislation, like continued tax cuts, deregulation, and more. But the part we are most excited about is the inclusion of the Educational
As a parent, I know firsthand how life-changing it can be to find the right school for your child. My own children each had different needs, and the right fit made all the difference in their growth, confidence, and success. That’s why school choice isn’t just policy to me—it’s personal. Over the past year, the Palmetto
This column by Palmetto Promise President & CEO Wendy Damron was originally published in the Daily Signal. South Carolina’s school choice program faced a crushing setback when the state’s Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional after hundreds of students had already started classes at new schools. However, a grassroots response has emerged to help families affected by the
Over the last few weeks, Palmetto Promise has been hosting a little bracket competition of our own. And no, I’m not talking about the office March Madness pool that Dr. Oran Smith unfortunately won… We’ve been asking our readers to vote for the items on our Palmetto Freedom Agenda they feel are most important to
As a CPA and tax professional with over 30 years of experience, I’ve seen firsthand how tax policy impacts people’s lives, businesses, and the broader economy. That’s why I strongly support the proposed income tax cut (H.4216) currently under consideration in South Carolina. Is it perfect? No. But it’s a strong, responsible step in the
We are proud to share that Palmetto Promise Institute’s President & CEO Wendy Damron was appointed by the US Commission on Civil Rights to the advisory committee for the State of South Carolina. Below is the press release from the US Commission on Civil Rights regarding Damron’s appointment: On Friday, March 21, 2025, the
You may remember last year’s Policy Bracketology, where we asked our readers to vote on Palmetto Promise’s biggest policy wins, in celebration of our 11th anniversary as an organization. Now that we have released our 2025-26 legislative priorities in our Palmetto Freedom Agenda, we want to ask you, our readers, to cast your votes for
Palmetto Promise President and CEO Wendy Damron is honored to have been featured on the State Policy Network’s Neighbors in the Network podcast this week. Read about her interview and check out the whole episode below! When the South Carolina Supreme Court unexpectedly ruled mid-school year against the state’s Education Scholarship Trust Fund, thousands of low-income students suddenly faced
