The State Policy Network (SPN) is an umbrella group of right-wing think tanks across the country.

The South Carolina Policy Council (SCPC) is SPNs cookie-cutter think tank in South Carolina. While SCPC claims to be focused on issues important to South Carolinians, they actually push an agenda dictated by its national rightwing funders and partners.

After seeing the success of national right-wing political organizations and think tanks throughout the 1970s and 1980s, South Carolina corporate executive Thomas A. Roe set out to create mini-Heritage Foundations in states across the country. In a 1996 interview, Roe recounted a conversation he had with wealthy conservative donor and Heritage Foundation trustee Robert Krieble in which Roe told Krieble, "You capture the Soviet Union -- I'm going to capture the states." Roe would go on to found both the South Carolina Policy Council in 1986, and its parent organization, the State Policy Network, in 1992. From there Roe provided much of the seed money for SCPC and the SPN network through the Roe Foundation, which has given nearly $10 million to the SPN and member think tanks since 1998, including $1.2 million to SCPC and over $1 million to SPN.

SCPC founder Thomas Roe with President Ronald Reagan

SCPC is known for its influence in Governor Nikki Haleys administration. SCPC President Ashley Landess is a longtime friend of Governor Haley, and several current and former members of SCPC staff and board serve in the Haley administration. Despite SCPCs influence in the governors office, the council has failed to register any lobbyists or lobbying activity to the government of South Carolina or the federal government.

[Associated Press, January 2011]

SC Republican Senator Paul Campbell on SCPC's political activity

SCPC political campaign activities, including advocating that South Carolina voters replace moderate Republicans with more conservative lawmakers, have been criticized by both Democrats and Republicans. Some Republican lawmakers have called SCPC's political activity "dangerously close to crossing the line into campaigning and lobbying, actions that could cost the Policy Council its nonprofit designation.

then-SC Republican Senate President Pro Tem (now Lt. Governor) Glenn McConnell on SCPC in 2011

Restrict workers' collective bargaining rights Cut funding to South Carolina's public school Privative public education with vouchers Block access to affordable healthcare Oppose gun safety laws

SCPC currently operates The Nerve, a right-wing news outlet that is affiliated with the Franklin Center, a rightwing organization with "statehouse" news bureau programs in states across the country. Despite the Franklin Center's nonpartisan status, many of its state outlets have been criticized for their conservative bias and the center is largely funded by the same right-wing funders of SPN. By publishing agenda-driven content, SCPC uses The Nerve to reiterate is right-wing agenda through another means. Tax records show that the secretive Koch-funded Donors Capital Fund is likely the main funding source for SCPCs The Nerve. DCF contributed $1,005,000 to the South Carolina Policy Council between 2008 and 2011 specifically for journalism projects or SCPCs news bureau.
[Donors Capital Fund, IRS 990s, 2008-2011]

South Carolina Policy Council, Accessed 8/27/2013

SCPC President Ashley Landess

The South Carolina Policy Council has called for requiring income disclosure of South Carolina lawmakers, but has failed to hold itself to the same standard. SCPC is not required by law to disclose its funding sources, even though SCPC may have more influence in shaping state policy than some legislators.

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A review of the South Carolina Policy Councils few known donors suggests that the organization is beholden to right-wing special interests, many which are located out of state.
THE KOCH BROTHERS: SCPC has received $45,000 from two of the Kochs charitable foundations. SCPC has also received over $2.8 million from the Koch-funded Donors Capital Fund, which has been called the dark money ATM of the conservative movement. THE ROE FOUNDATION: SCPC founder Thomas Roes right-wing foundation continues to be a major source of revenue for SCPC, contributing $1,161,000 to SCPC between 1998 and 2011. THE LOWNDES FOUNDATION: Lowndes is a major funder of SPN think tanks, and the foundations executive director, William Lowndes III, sits on the board of SPN and SCPC. The Lowndes Foundation has contributed $480,947 to SCPC since 2004. William Lowndes serves as the Chairman and CEO of the SC-based concrete design and construction corporation, the Tindall Corporation.

Other SCPC right-wing funders include the Coors familys Castle Rock Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation (of Walmart), the Jaquelin Hume Foundation, the JM Foundation, and the State Policy Network. While SCPC takes money from corporate special interests like the Kochs, the Lowndes, the Waltons, and the Coors, SCPC has consistently called for lowering or eliminating South Carolinas corporate income tax, advocated against workers rights, and pushed for weakening consumer protections and corporate regulations.