Palmetto Promise Nominated for National Award!
Palmetto Promise Institute is one of three nominees that made the cut for the State Policy Network‘s “Biggest Win for Freedom Award.” The winner will be announced at SPN’s Annual Meeting in Chicago next month.
About the Awards…
State Policy Network’s Bob Williams Awards for Outstanding Policy Achievement recognize state think tanks doing exceptional work to create and disseminate credible policy research and ideas that will help states implement free-market solutions and expand personal freedom and opportunity for all Americans.
About the Biggest Win for Freedom Award…
Recognizes the organization whose effort was instrumental toward securing a significant policy victory this year. Wins can be single-state or multi-state outcome; offense or defense; state or national. Finalists were selected based on the significance of the victory and how important the organization’s contribution was to the victory.
…and here’s the SPN description of Palmetto Promise’s nomination.
“Incremental No More” – Repealing South Carolina’s CON Law
Years ago now, Palmetto Promise Institute (PPI) leaders, along with physicians and legislators, stood in the rotunda of the South Carolina Statehouse. That group called for repeal of the state’s Certificate of Need (CON) law, one of the most restrictive in the nation. Progress was slow, as it usually is in a state known for its incrementalism. But, using lessons learned from many in this Network — telling patient stories, training legislative champions, pounding social media, podcasting, op-eds, original research, sharing research and best practices from allies across the country, and forming an unbreakable coalition of national and state groups — Certificate of Need was repealed.
Considering how many topics were covered by the state’s CON law, and the level of opposition to its repeal, one of the nation’s foremost CON experts Dr. Matt Mitchell has said that “South Carolina’s full repeal was the most significant in nearly a decade.” For PPI, it was a seven-year fight with numerous setbacks along the way, but through dedication to a coherent strategy, the bill repealing CON picked up a stunning degree of momentum late, passing the Senate 30-6 and the House unanimously.
The full story…
Yes, Palmetto Promise has been nominated by our national partner, SPN, for our policy, research, and communications work. But we believe this nomination honors the work of many legislators and a number of organizations over several years. We are honored by this partnership and will discuss the specific heroes and allies of CON in a forthcoming post.
