THE NERVE

31/01/2025

“The SCPC is encouraged by the Governor's position on joint and several liability, the lowering of the state income tax, and the need for universal school choice. All of these policies would result in a more prosperous South Carolina.” – SCPC’s CEO Michael Burris on Gov. McMaster’s annual speech to lawmakers this week.

In his eighth State of the State Address on Wednesday before the S.C. General Assembly, Gov. Henry McMaster outlined his priorities as South Carolina’s longest-serving governor, including lowering the income tax rate further, reforming civil liability laws and improving school choice opportunities...

29/01/2025

As the taxpayer cost of investigating the disputed $1.8 billion keeps growing, we wanted to find out whether S.C. Treasurer Curtis Loftis, a key figure in the controversy, agreed with the just-released findings of a related state report. Here’s what Loftis said – and didn’t answer:

Under questioning last April at a state legislative hearing, longtime S.C. Treasurer Curtis Loftis answered “yes” when asked by then-Sen. Mike Fanning if the mystery $1.8 billion was “real money that I can touch,” and if it could be withdrawn “today.”

15/01/2025

A state report that might answer questions surrounding the mystery $1.8 billion is expected to be released later today. Meanwhile, the taxpayer cost of investigating it keeps growing.

The state attorney general and comptroller general offices collectively have paid more than $2.8 million to three outside law firms in connection with a federal investigation of the mystery $1.8 billion – $743,000 over what was initially budgeted, records obtained by The Nerve show.

06/01/2025

How can S.C. lawmakers keep state spending under control? The South Carolina Policy Council has released this plan:

South Carolina has enjoyed significant economic success. With strong labor market growth and a favorable climate for business investment, the state continues to be one of the fastest-growing states in the nation. However, without a responsible approach to budgeting, this progress risks being oversha...

17/12/2024

If you can’t attend your local town or city council meeting in person, you should at least be able to watch it live online. But that’s not the case in most incorporated municipalities in South Carolina.

Editor’s note: This is another story in a planned series of stories on livestreaming and other transparency issues affecting local or state government in South Carolina.

10/12/2024

A little more than a year after we published this investigation, S.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Kittredge has issued a court order generally banning magistrates from hearing any contested matter involving a state senator, whether as a lawyer or party, who has "direct authority" to recommend the magistrate for appointment by the governor.

Update: 10/16/23- Less than three weeks after this story and a companion investigative piece were published, Gov. Henry McMaster in a letter to the S.C. Senate called for reforms in the magistrate selection process, pointing out that his "relatively recent predecessors adopted or acceded to a custom...

19/11/2024

For years, the salaries of South Carolina’s higher-paid judges and court staff were kept hidden from the public. But the new chief justice has made it easier for citizens to see that information.

The S.C. Supreme Court’s new chief justice has reversed the court system’s longstanding policy of keeping secret the salaries of higher-paid judges and department employees – years after The Nerve’s reporting on the issue.

12/11/2024

Check out the South Carolina Policy Council's proposal to improve transparency at the state and local government levels:

Citizen engagement is vital to an accountable functioning government. Transparency empowers people to witness and participate in the decision-making processes. In today’s digital age, livestreaming public meetings is critical for fostering community involvement.

28/10/2024

If you can't attend your local school board meeting in person, you should be able to watch it live on the district’s website or social media platforms. But that option isn't offered in a significant number of South Carolina's school districts.

Editor's note: This is the first story in a planned series of stories on livestreaming and other transparency issues affecting local or state government in South Carolina.

15/10/2024

The South Carolina Policy Council has released its priority list for the upcoming legislative session.

As we move into the 2025-26 legislative session, the South Carolina Policy Council will pursue a strategic set of 18 reforms aimed at advancing our mission of promoting and protecting the principles of limited government and individual liberties, free markets, and traditional South Carolina values.....

02/10/2024

S.C. lawmakers last year approved a $1 billion taxpayer-funded gift for the Scout Motors project. We’ve now learned that top state officials were informed earlier that similar projects elsewhere typically required hundreds of millions less in grant commitments.

The $1 billion subsidy to Scout Motors is about $300 million to $500 million more than what states normally would have to offer in grants for comparable projects, The Nerve found in a review of a newly released State Ethics Commission order.

30/09/2024

Gov. Henry McMaster and the S.C. Department of Education have asked the state Supreme Court to reconsider its recent ruling that gutted a 2023 school-choice law allowing public funds to be used for tuition at private schools.

19/09/2024

Your tax dollars at work: The state of South Carolina rejected lower bids in hiring a firm to investigate the mystery $1.8 billion. And a special government panel that has met secretly still hasn’t provided any public answers about the money.

A global consulting firm hired by the state to investigate the mystery $1.8 billion and related financial questions was not the low bidder for the “potential” $3 million contract, records obtained by The Nerve show.

11/09/2024

The South Carolina Policy Council -the parent organization of The Nerve - has issued the following statement on today's S.C. Supreme Court school-choice ruling:

The South Carolina Policy Council says it’s “deeply disappointed” with the S.C. Supreme Court’s ruling today that a new state program using public funds for scholarships to allow students to attend private schools was unconstitutional.

06/09/2024

Check out the South Carolina Policy Council's latest reader survey:

As the 2025-26 legislative session approaches in South Carolina, we conducted an internal survey of our readers August 31- September 4 to gather insights on key policy issues. The survey covered areas such as taxes and spending, infrastructure, education, legal reform, and transparency.

04/09/2024

The South Carolina Policy Council - the parent organization of The Nerve - has a new research director.

The South Carolina Policy Council is pleased to announce that Sam Aaron has be promoted to Research Director. In his new role, Sam will lead our research staff’s efforts to ensure that the SCPC is putting forth best-in-class materials to further promote our stated values.

28/08/2024

When it comes to picking magistrates in South Carolina, state senators pretty much run the show. And they have the power to keep magistrates on the bench long after their terms expired.

S.C. senators this year apparently had no interest in legislation to end the longstanding practice of allowing county magistrates to serve months or even years after their terms expired.

19/08/2024

Do South Carolina’s top judges ever get punished for getting into ethical trouble? You wouldn’t know it by looking at court records, though complaints are filed against them.

South Carolina’s top court has decided to remove itself from investigations of ethics complaints against sitting justices.