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Palmetto Promise Team
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Bidenomics in three pictures
Oran P. Smith, Ph.D
The Latest
Palmetto Promise’s Question at the SCGOP U.S. Senate Debate
Wendy Damron, CPA
On August 3rd, during the WIS NEWS 10 SCGOP U.S. Senate debate, Palmetto Promise President & CEO Wendy Damron had the opportunity to ask candidates about the SAVE Act. The candidates: Russell Fry, Darline Graham, Mark Lynch, Ralph Norman, and Mark Sanford were posed a questions covering a variety of topics that challenge South Carolina
The Truth About Data Centers
Bill Taylor
Welcome to the Innovation Age! It’s scary and exciting. Technology is advancing so rapidly it’s difficult to grasp the implications. Artificial intelligence (AI) and the data centers that support it are garnering the same sort of resistance the “horseless carriage” received when it first appeared on American roads in the late 19th century. The reaction
Data Centers: Just The Basic Facts
Ladson Porter
When you use an AI chatbot, watch an online video, back up a photo, or even send a text message, it is usually a data center that handles it behind the scenes. Even though most of us never see them, these campuses silently support our everyday lives. Knowing what a data center is and what sets them apart from other facilities will help us understand why they are becoming increasingly important. What Is a Data Center? Data centers are
Election Reform: Another Round is Needed for South Carolina
Kennedy Daniel
South Carolina has made significant progress concerning election reform. The latest Election Integrity Scorecard from The Heritage Foundation which was updated in November of 2025, ranks South Carolina pegged at 9th best in the country with a score of 81 out of 100. North Carolina scored 70 and Georgia 83. The highest scores in the
Magistrate Reform Was South Carolina’s Next Judicial Test
Ladson Porter
South Carolina lawmakers took a real step toward judicial reform in 2024. Governor McMaster signed S.1046 into law that July, changing how the state screens and selects most judges. It was a genuine win, years in the making. But one corner of the courthouse was left untouched: magistrate court. That was a problem, because magistrate
A Win for South Carolina Jobs: Buy American Iron and Steel Act Signed Into Law
Ladson Porter
The State of South Carolina just made a strong statement in favor of American manufacturing. H.4709, the Buy American Iron and Steel Act, passed both chambers of the South Carolina General Assembly and has been signed by the Governor. This legislation mandates the use of iron and steel manufactured in America for public work projects funded by the state treasury. The notion behind the legislation is rather simple, but it has the
Missed Opportunity: Alcohol Delivery, DUI Reform, and Civil Justice Bills Fail
Ladson Porter
Impaired driving is a serious issue in South Carolina. South Carolina leads the nation in the number of fatalities resulting from drunk driving, with 6.92 deaths per 100,000 citizens, according to federal highway data. This tragic statistic should not be taken lightly. A viable solution may lie in bills like H.3857, S.849, and S.52, which
Palmetto Promise Moderates Congressional District 1 Debate
Wendy Damron, CPA
I recently joined Live 5 News to help moderate the runoff debate for Congressional District 1 between Mark Smith and Jenny Costa Honeycutt. The candidates tackled a number of tough issues facing South Carolina and the United States, including housing affordability, the future of Social Security, parental rights, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).
2026 Governor’s Runoff Debate Moderated by Palmetto Promise
Palmetto Promise Team
On Tuesday, June 16th, Palmetto Promise Senior Fellow Dr. Oran Smith served as a moderator for the first (and only!) gubernatorial runoff debate between Attorney General Alan Wilson and Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette. Held on the campus of Coastal Carolina University, the debate allowed candidates the opportunity to comment on a wide variety of topics,
