Barb Dabitz
Manager, Executive Office & Board Affairs
Barb Dabitz is Manager, Executive Office & Board Affairs at the Commonwealth Foundation.
Prior to joining the Commonwealth Foundation in 2022, Barb spent over 15 years providing administrative and project management support to C-level and senior executives at healthcare organizations. A native of Delaware County and a graduate of Immaculata University, Barb is inspired by the Commonwealth Foundation’s leadership and dedication to creating greater opportunities for Pennsylvanians.
She resides in Chester County with her husband and enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time at the Jersey Shore.
Taxes & Economy
A Corporate Tax Cut Benefits All
Greg Mankiw has a great opinion piece in the NY Times on the benefits of reducing the corporate income tax: In fact, a corporate rate cut would…
Media
Read More: A Corporate Tax Cut Benefits AllTaxes & Economy
Was Jesus a Libertarian?
Michael Gerson, the architect of all that “Compassionate Conservative” nonsense, had a column in the Washington Post claiming Jesus was not a libertarian (or even a fiscal conservative with…
Media
Read More: Was Jesus a Libertarian?Health Care
More evidence on the failure of RomneyCare
Michael Tanner blasts positive media coverage of a new report on Massachusetts health care, pointing out the many reasons why RomneyCare is a failure (from the same report). Tanner…
Media
Read More: More evidence on the failure of RomneyCareEducation
Real Savings: Cutting Cybers vs. School Choice
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Post-Gazette have stories on the renewed push to reduce cyber school funding. Rep. Karen Beyer and other proponents are touting that: The bill…
Media
Read More: Real Savings: Cutting Cybers vs. School ChoiceEducation
Charter Schools Make the Grade
Bob Maranto has an editorial in the Philadelphia Daily News on the reporting on charter school scandals. He notes that charter schools are more accountable – in that they…
Media
Read More: Charter Schools Make the GradeRegulation
Smoking Bans Ain’t Cool, Unless You’re a Fool
The conference committee on banning private businesses’ right to allow smoking in their establishments has finally reported a bill. GrassrootsPA has the news roundup. I have written on this…
Media
Read More: Smoking Bans Ain’t Cool, Unless You’re a Fool
Abolish the Turnpike Commission?
Rock the Capital has a new report looking at the history, efficiency, and corruption of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, raising the question of whether there is any need for…
Media
Read More: Abolish the Turnpike Commission?Regulation
We Don’t Need a Climate Tax on the Poor
Sen. Inhofe in today’s Wall Street Journal outlines the consequences of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act: The Lieberman-Warner bill (America’s Climate Security Act) represents the largest tax increase…
Media
Read More: We Don’t Need a Climate Tax on the Poor
Rendell tells PTC, “Stop Stalling!”
Governor Rendell has called out the Turnpike Commission for stalling on resubmitting their I-80 tolling application.But noting that Governor Rendell also stated that it will be…
Media
Read More: Rendell tells PTC, “Stop Stalling!”Government Accountability
Secret budget meetings have begun
John Micek reports on (and mocks) Governor Rendell’s press conference on the state budget yesterday: Rendell and some House Democrats called for an end to the annual posturing…
Media
Read More: Secret budget meetings have begunState Budget
Put Pennsylvania on a Spending Diet
The Burden of Taxes In 2008, the average working Pennsylvanian will labor 111 days just to pay his or her federal, state, and local taxes—the equivalent of working January 1…
Press Release
Read More: Put Pennsylvania on a Spending DietEducation
Higher Graduation Rates For Milwaukee Choice Students
A New Study from School Choice Wisconsin finds that choice schools in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program have substantially higher graduation rates than the Milwaukee public schools. Furthermore, as…
Media
Read More: Higher Graduation Rates For Milwaukee Choice Students
New Website, Fact Sheet on PA Turnpike Lease
Pennsylvania Transportation Partners (the Abertis-Citi consortium that won the bid on the Turnpike lease) has a new website along with 12-page briefing book on the lease deal. On…
Media
Read More: New Website, Fact Sheet on PA Turnpike LeasePublic Union Democracy
Dad declares war on teachers union
Simon Campbell of Stop Teacher Strikes is profiled in the Courier Times…
Media
Read More: Dad declares war on teachers union
Tolls a good way to fund roads
My letter to the editor in the Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times Online: The May 21 editorial on the Pennsylvania Turnpike lease calling Interstate80 drivers/rural…
Media
Read More: Tolls a good way to fund roadsEducation
School boards fall prey to Edifice Complex
Several PA school boards put their Edifice Complex on display this past week. The Danville School Board voted to renovate three elementary schools, rather than save…
Media
Read More: School boards fall prey to Edifice ComplexRegulation
Privatizing the State Liquor Stores
State Senator Rob Wonderling talks about divestiture of the state liquor stores (MP3 file). More on State Store privatization: “Public Benefits of Private Liquor” news release and…
Media
Read More: Privatizing the State Liquor StoresTaxes & Economy
Retirement Assets Increase to $160,000 Per Household
Mark Perry on the Carpe Diem blog offers some highlights of a new report on investment and retirement savings in the US. The growth of participation in mutual…
Media
Read More: Retirement Assets Increase to $160,000 Per HouseholdTaxes & Economy
How many pay no taxes?
The Tax Foundation analysis of IRS data finds that nearly one-third of those filing tax returns in 2005 paid no income tax. The return info itself in interesting –…
Media
Read More: How many pay no taxes?Regulation
PA’s Corporate Welfare Line
Patriot-News Editorial on how Harrisburg is handing out taxpayer money to big businesses (this time, Amazon) that should not be getting special treatment at all. This corporate welfare comes…
Media
Read More: PA’s Corporate Welfare LineRegulation
Surprise! Stadium Predictions Flawed
David Boaz comments on reports that the taxpayer-subsidized baseball stadium for the Washington Nationals isn’t paying dividends. But then, we already knew that, and Boaz cites a slew of…
Media
Read More: Surprise! Stadium Predictions Flawed