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.
Tolling I-80 or leasing the turnpike–how will we pay to fix our roads and bridges?
Video – Matt Brouillette vs. Joe Brimmeier (and other guests) on leasing the Turnpike and tolling I-80. Topics on this page Toll road…
Media
Read More: Tolling I-80 or leasing the turnpike–how will we pay to fix our roads and bridges?Education
Study: Milwaukee school choice program saves taxpayers money
A new study released by the School Choice Demonstration Project at the University of Arkansas, demonstrates how Milwaukee’s Parental Choice Program saves Wisconsin taxpayers money, as voucher amounts are…
Media
Read More: Study: Milwaukee school choice program saves taxpayers moneyHealth Care
Obama v. McCain on Health Care
Cato Daily Podcast with Michael Tanner on the differences between McCain and Obama – and the constrast of market-based reform vs. expansion of government – on health care.
Media
Read More: Obama v. McCain on Health CareTaxes & Economy
The Laffer Curve, Part II
Second part in the video series on the Laffer Curve – this video looks at real examples of how tax cuts result in economic and revenue growth. Topics…
Media
Read More: The Laffer Curve, Part IIHealth Care
RendellCare: What Would Jesus Do?
Remember the passage in the Bible where Jesus called upon the Roman Empire to provide universal, government-run health insurance? What! There’s no such passage? Perhaps someone should point that…
Commentary
Read More: RendellCare: What Would Jesus Do?Health Care
Semonizing on RendellCare
Morning Call article and Post-Gazette piece on the planned “CAP Sunday” and campaign to use sermons to promote RendellCare. (HT: GrassrootsPA) I’ve written on Jesus and…
Media
Read More: Semonizing on RendellCareGovernment Accountability
Odds of Dying by Cause
Interesting data from the National Safety Council on Odds of Dying for non-natural causes of death. Surprising figures The “safest way to travel” appears to be by streetcar, followed…
Media
Read More: Odds of Dying by CauseGovernment Accountability
Q&A on Open Records
FAQ on the new Open Records Law from the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.
Media
Read More: Q&A on Open RecordsRegulation
Corporate Welfare responsible for 125% of new jobs
A new study and press conference today by the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA) takes credit for helping to “create” 186,000 jobs in PA from 2003 through…
Media
Read More: Corporate Welfare responsible for 125% of new jobsTaxes & Economy
The Running Total Of Our Taxes
One blog I have been following is Taxation With Representation, in which “Danny” keeps a running total of the total taxes his family has paid – income, Social Security,…
Media
Read More: The Running Total Of Our TaxesHealth Care
Wal-Mart can be good for your health
Salon.com article on the growth of retail clinics in providing low-cost health care services – and the opposition from entrenched special interests. Topics on this page…
Media
Read More: Wal-Mart can be good for your healthEducation
Drew Carey Video on Education & Teachers’ Unions
ReasonTV video with Drew Carey on union opposition to school reform in Watts Commentary on the video from NTU’s Government Bytes blog Topics on this page…
Media
Read More: Drew Carey Video on Education & Teachers’ UnionsEducation
Curriculum reform “isn’t enough”
Reason’s Lisa Snell lays the smackdown on arguments by Sol Stern in his article “School Choice Isn’t Enough” (Click here for previous post), which labels instructionist reform…
Media
Read More: Curriculum reform “isn’t enough”State Budget
CAGW Names Rep. John Murtha Porker of the Year
Pennsylvania’s own Congresman John Murtha was named Porker of the Year by Citizens Against Government Waste: In fiscal year 2008, he brought home 72 pork projects worth $149.2…
Media
Read More: CAGW Names Rep. John Murtha Porker of the YearRegulation
Legislators plan hearings on privatizing liquor stores
Post-Gazette on the push for privatization of state-run liquor stores. More on State Store privatization: “Public Benefits of Private Liquor” news release and testimony from Reason Foundation…
Media
Read More: Legislators plan hearings on privatizing liquor storesTaxes & Economy
The ACLU gets it right for once
Tony Phyrillas on the ACLU’s defense of property owners’ right to put campaign signs in their yard in South Park (not that South Park). Topics on this…
Media
Read More: The ACLU gets it right for onceGovernment Accountability
Mickey Goes to Washington
Washington Post article on Walt Disney and other lobbyists pushing for taxpayer subsidies for tourism. If you don’t want to know how the sausage is made, don’t read this…
Media
Read More: Mickey Goes to WashingtonRegulation
Lackawanna County: Where’s the Film?
Another case study on corporate welfare for the film industry was featured in the Morning Call. Lackwanna County officials are wondering what happened to the $500,000 of taxpayer money…
Media
Read More: Lackawanna County: Where’s the Film?State Budget
State’s economy, budget are at odds
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review question the Rendell administration’s glorious reviews of the state’s economy. The size of the state’s economy grew about 20 percent from 1997 to 2006, but…
Media
Read More: State’s economy, budget are at oddsTaxes & Economy
JFK gives Rendell advice on “economic stimulus”
Media
Read More: JFK gives Rendell advice on “economic stimulus”Government Accountability
‘Black ops’ in the Legislature
Brad Bumsted on the “Black Ops” of BonusGate: The legality of bonuses might not be resolved for some time. But it’s clear that they were wrong, handled “off…
Media
Read More: ‘Black ops’ in the Legislature