Jack O'Toole

South Carolina

Statehouse Reporter at The Charleston City Paper

Recently, city of Charleston. Currently, Statehouse Report and Charleston City Paper. (Photo: Leonel Heisenberg/Unsplash)

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Articles

Trump tariffs bite bottom line of local, state small businesses

6 days ago | charlestoncitypaper.com | Jack O'Toole

They cost $9,000 a second. Every second of every hour of every day. That’s what the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says Trump administration tariffs of 10% to 145% are currently costing American small businesses. Annualized, that’s almost $284 billion a year. And according to economists and small business operators here and across the state, that’s a dagger aimed straight at the heart of a sector that employs almost half of all working South Carolinians.
Bills to watch as S.C. legislative clock ticks down

1 week ago | charlestoncitypaper.com | Jack O'Toole

South Carolina Statehouse | file photo Credit: Sean Rayford file photo By Jack O’Toole, Capitol Bureau | South Carolina lawmakers are scrambling to put points on the board before the General Assembly’s clock for doing business hits triple zeroes on May 8.
S.C. fisheries mostly healthy, but face threats

1 week ago | charlestoncitypaper.com | Jack O'Toole

In an age of relentless cynicism about government, talking with the fishermen, scientists, politicians and regulators who manage South Carolina’s fisheries feels like a bracing splash of cold water on a hazy summer day. Editor’s Note: The following article is a condensed version of this week’s cover story in Charleston City Paper. To read the full piece, click here. Photo by Ashley Stanol/Thanks to Crosby’s Fish & Shrimp Co.Words you hear a lot in those conversations?
Catch as catch can: S.C. fisheries mostly healthy, but face threats

1 week ago | charlestoncitypaper.com | Jack O'Toole

In an age of relentless cynicism about government, talking with the fishermen, scientists, politicians and regulators who manage South Carolina’s fisheries feels like a bracing splash of cold water on a hazy summer day. Words you hear a lot in those conversations? “Competent,” “caring,” “collaborative” and “successful.” Words you don’t hear so much?
Week in Review: Lawmaker pay raise overshadows Senate budget items

2 weeks ago | charlestoncitypaper.com | Jack O'Toole

A view of the S.C. Senate chamber The S.C. Senate on April 23 passed its version of the 2025-26 state budget, a $14.4 billion spending blueprint chock full of popular line items like income tax cuts, teacher pay increases and new money for roads and bridges. But it was the $18,000-a-year raise senators gave themselves that got all the attention — and the social media blowback.
Big issues unresolved with few days left in session

2 weeks ago | charlestoncitypaper.com | Jack O'Toole

As the 2025 legislative session barrels toward its May 8 close, people on both sides of the political aisle can point to progress, setbacks and issues where the jury is still out. “Overall, I think we still see a lot of potential,” said Sam Aaron, research director at the conservative-leaning S.C. Policy Council.
High-profile party switch forces state Dems to face tough questions

3 weeks ago | charlestoncitypaper.com | Jack O'Toole

For South Carolina Democrats, 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe’s April 10 announcement that he was switching parties was just another verse in a song they’ve been hearing since 1962 when party-switching Midlands U.S. Rep. Floyd Spence first penned the music. Two years later, U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond wrote the lyrics when he switched.
GOP’s plan to raise taxes on middle class in trouble

3 weeks ago | blythewoodonline.com | Jack O'Toole

COLUMBIA – A much-ballyhooed Republican income tax plan isin trouble in the South Carolina House, where nine co-sponsors withdrew theirsupport last week after an analysis showed the proposal would raise taxes onmost taxpayers. Meanwhile, the powerfulWays and Means Committee on Thursday delayed a vote on the measure. “Once again, the South Carolina supermajority is advocatingfor a policy that does more harm than good for the people of South Carolina.
S.C. budget writers trade earmarks for tax cuts

1 month ago | charlestoncitypaper.com | Jack O'Toole

WEEK IN REVIEW | The S.C. Senate Finance Committee advanced a $14.4 billion budget plan this week that, in a surprise move, contained only one earmark — a $300 million expenditure to cut the state’s top income tax rate from 6.2% to 6%. Under current law, the rate was set to drop to 6.1%, the number adopted in the S.C. House Ways and Means Committee budget plan last month.
State officials looking at major charter school reforms

1 month ago | charlestoncitypaper.com | Jack O'Toole

Amid ongoing concerns about lackluster academic performance and fresh allegations of financial self-dealing, state officials are considering major reforms to rein in South Carolina’s charter school system. The goal, officials say, is to hold the worst players and practices accountable—while preserving what’s working in a system that’s also produced some of the state’s top-performing schools.