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

GOP budget would hurt hundreds of thousands in S.C., experts warn

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

A Republican budget bill that would slash more than $1 trillion from federal health care and food-assistance programs, cut taxes primarily for wealthy Americans and add almost $4 trillion to the national debt is raising alarms among experts and advocates across South Carolina. The legislation, officially dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill Act,” passed the Republican-controlled House on May 22 in a 215-214 vote, overwhelmingly along party lines.
State budget has more money for teachers, taxpayers, legislators

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

A $14.7 billion state budget that includes an income tax cut, higher teacher pay, more money for ailing roads and bridges, and a raise for legislators is headed for the governor’s desk after it won final passage in the General Assembly on May 28. In addition, the spending plan maintained existing freezes on state employee health insurance premiums and in-state tuition at colleges and universities.
Federal judge blasts Trump administration in local grants case

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

The courthouse complex at the Four Corners of Law in downtown Charleston. Credit: File photo A Lowcountry nonprofit won its David-versus-Goliath fight against the Trump administration last week when U.S. District Court Judge Richard Gergel ruled federal officials illegally canceled an $11.4 million Biden-era local grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) .
S.C. budget deal adds $3M for legislative pay raises

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

With a wary eye on Trump administration tariffs and federal budget cuts that experts warn could blow a hole in South Carolina’s budget next year, state lawmakers moved this week to sock away another $500 million for a rainy day. That was the key takeaway from a $14.7 billion 2025-26 state budget deal hammered out Wednesday by S.C. House and Senate negotiators — an agreement greased by the last-minute discovery of $1 billion in new money thanks to updated revenue forecasts.
What’s ahead in education advocacy for S.C.

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

They say all politics is local. So, too, is education, says the incoming president of a major state teachers’ organization who plans to advocate with a strong focus on what teachers want at the local level. “We talk a lot with our state legislators, which is important because it affects everybody,” said Dena Crews, a Florence teacher and incoming president of the South Carolina Education Association.
S.C. justices uphold abortion law, weigh in on Amazon

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

With the South Carolina General Assembly out of session, the state Supreme Court took center stage this week, handing down a major abortion ruling and hearing arguments over whether online retailer Amazon owes S.C. taxpayers $277 million in back taxes. S.C. Supreme Court Credit: via WikiMediaOn Wednesday, the court ruled 5-0 that the state’s so-called “fetal heartbeat” law bans abortion six weeks after conception — often before many women know they’re pregnant.
Energy bill passes without ratepayer protections

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

A sweeping energy bill is headed to Gov. Henry McMaster’s desk for signature, but only after lawmakers stripped out consumer protection provisions designed to shield residential customers from higher power bills. Credit: Photo by Fre Sonneveld on UnsplashAdvocates say the legislation, which will make it easier for utilities to build new power stations such as a controversial natural gas plant in rural Colleton County, is necessary to boost energy production in the nation’s fastest growing state.
Trump tariffs bite bottom line of local, state small businesses

1 month 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 month 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 month 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?