There is surprising agreement among conservative policy organizations on the most important changes needed to modernize South Carolina’s tax system and strengthen the state’s competitiveness. This is the conclusion of a new report from Palmetto Promise Institute. DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT. What is the current state of tax policy in South Carolina? While tax reform
This article written by Palmetto Promise board member Bill Taylor was originally posted in the Aiken Standard. The warning lights on the financial dashboard are blinking red. For example, Social Security’s trustees project that reserves supporting retirement and survivor benefits will be depleted in late 2032 — only six years from now. Without congressional action,
What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Did to SNAP The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, made several significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Two of these reforms directly impact state budgets: states will soon be responsible for a greater share of SNAP administrative
In recent years, there has been a plethora of stories about the great migration of Americans from high-cost-of-living states, namely California and New York, to cheaper, freer states such as Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. So, what about South Carolina? It is actually the Palmetto State that is leading the nation in in-migration. According to Tax
In this OpEd originally published in the South Carolina Daily Gazette, Palmetto Promise CEO Wendy Damron and Investor Choice Advocates Network Founder and President, Nicolas Morgan discuss the strict regulations concerning investing in South Carolina and nationwide. Emily Kapszukiewicz has spent her career in health care — earning a master’s degree in applied economics and
We frequently hear how the U.S. is in a “debt crisis.” The U.S. Debt Clock presents debt data in real time. Is this level of debt really a problem? If so, what should South Carolinians do about it? Productive Uses of Government Debt Though most of us would prefer a smaller federal government without any debt, debt can serve legitimate purposes when used correctly. Borrowing allows the government to continue operating despite revenue volatility (e.g., tax collections are
South Carolina taxpayers were the winners this week in a friendly game of chicken between the Senate and the House over how deeply to cut the state’s top marginal individual income tax rate. But before we get to the details of a busy money week for the legislature, here is a short tax cut history.
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
There are very few policy issues that drastically affect families, employers, and the state economy all at the same time, but child care certainly fits in this category. South Carolina parents are struggling to find affordable child care, making it increasingly difficult to balance holding down a job and raising a family. Many parents face termination or reduced hours, as frequent child care-related absences— defined as time off required to provide necessary care or attention to a child when normal care
This column by Palmetto Promise board member Barry Wynn was originally published in FitsNews. For more than three decades, I’ve worked at the intersection of investment management, retirement planning, and sound public policy — helping families plan for their futures and advising institutions on how to safeguard the assets entrusted to them. As former Chairman
