Giana DePaul
Press Secretary
Giana DePaul is the Press Secretary at the Commonwealth Foundation.
A proud Montgomery County native, Giana, both as a professional and academic, knows the hows of communicating policy that is understandable, responsive, and impactful to the public.
Giana graduated Summa Cum Laude from Liberty University in 2023 with a BS in Government: Politics and Policy. While at Liberty, she was part of the university’s policy journal editorial team, publishing various articles on the Tenth Amendment, the intersection of economics and public policy, and other free market ideas. Moreover, Giana gained extensive policy experience through an internship at the Heritage Foundation, a policy-writing intensive with the Hoover Institute, and her work with federal, state, and local elected officials in both campaign and official roles.
Before joining the Commonwealth Foundation, Giana had the honor of serving as Executive Director of the Montgomery County Republican Committee during the 2024 presidential election cycle. Her priority was to lessen the information gaps between county regulations and the everyday voter.
Giana is also a member of the 2025 class of the Anne B. Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series.
Giana now lives in Harrisburg. When she’s not writing press releases, she loves to spend time with family, visit local thrift stores, go on scenic hikes, and find the best coffee shops in town.
Welfare
Unwinding Medicaid Continuous Enrollment
Summary On April 1, Pennsylvania returned to normal Medicaid eligibility rules and began a year-long process of redetermining eligibility for all 3.68 million beneficiaries.Medicaid spending grows faster than our state…
Fact Sheet
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How the next mayor can help Philadelphia’s schools
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer The top reason people with kids move out of Philadelphia isn’t because of crime or jobs — it’s…
Media Hit
Read More: How the next mayor can help Philadelphia’s schoolsWelfare
Medicaid needs a better ‘normal’ in Pa.
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review This month, Medicaid is finally returning to normal — but “normal” was never that great. Currently, an estimated 600,000 ineligible Pennsylvanians…
Media Hit
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Biden’s Ineffectual Energy Play Sticks Americans with the Bill
Originally published in Newsweek President Joe Biden‘s muddled approval of oil exploration in Alaska—and his move last month to increase offshore drilling—are textbook examples of the perils of trying…
Media Hit
Read More: Biden’s Ineffectual Energy Play Sticks Americans with the BillEnergy
Shapiro and Pa.’s divided Legislature can work together to reduce energy costs
Originally published in the Bucks County Courier Times Gov. Josh Shapiro was right to emphasize in his first budget address that Pennsylvania can be a leader in…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro and Pa.’s divided Legislature can work together to reduce energy costsEducation
Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll Findings
Summary The Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll, conducted March 24-29, is the first in a series of quarterly surveys taking the pulse of voters on the “state of the…
Memo
Read More: Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll FindingsGovernment Accountability
Dems are determined to stop voter ID, even if it comes at the expense of their top legislative goal
Originally published at City & State PA For two months, Democrats and left-wing activists stonewalled the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to prevent a vote on the voter ID and…
Media Hit
Read More: Dems are determined to stop voter ID, even if it comes at the expense of their top legislative goalEducation
No real education reform without school choice. Bigger budgets won’t do enough.
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Flooding public schools with more money won’t deliver educational opportunity for every student. Equitable opportunity requires that every student has access to the educational…
Media Hit
Read More: No real education reform without school choice. Bigger budgets won’t do enough.Government Accountability
A surefire way to destroy your political enemies
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Our modern political life has wrought many ills. The fastest spreading contagion is no longer viewing fellow Americans with ideologies different from our…
Media Hit
Read More: A surefire way to destroy your political enemiesEducation
School Choice Report, Episode 2
There have been countless battles for the right to properly educate, give agency to, and give education access to Black children. In this episode, Dr. Howard Fuller joins the conversation.
Podcast
Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 2Education
Commonwealth Foundation Files Amicus Brief Following Education Lawsuit Ruling
April 3, 2023, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Commonwealth Foundation filed an amicus brief in response to the Commonwealth Court’s recent ruling in William Penn School District et al. v.
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Files Amicus Brief Following Education Lawsuit RulingState Budget
What is real freedom?
Originally published at LNP Gov. Josh Shapiro likes to talk about “real freedom” — a familiar campaign promise repeated eight times in his inaugural speech and twice in his…
Media Hit
Read More: What is real freedom?Public Union Democracy
Gov. Shapiro should represent workers over powerful campaign donors
Originally published in The Mercury Gov. Josh Shapiro frequently touts his commitment to “real freedom.” But delivering that freedom to all Pennsylvanians depends on whether he chooses to side…
Media Hit
Read More: Gov. Shapiro should represent workers over powerful campaign donorsEducation
Pennsylvania Senator Kim Ward endorses Lifeline Scholarships after Gov. Shapiro’s budget address
Pennsylvania Senator Kim Ward encourages Gov. Josh Shapiro to support Lifeline Scholarships following the budget address. Topics on this pageJosh ShapiroPennsylvania…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Senator Kim Ward endorses Lifeline Scholarships after Gov. Shapiro’s budget addressTaxes & Economy
Minimum Wage
Summary One percent of Pennsylvania workers earn the minimum wage, an all-time low.Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Recent analysis by Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Minimum WagePublic Union Democracy
Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election Cycle
Key Points Government unions are a top interest group in Pennsylvania, spending more than $190 million on politics since 2007. Government union political action committee (PAC) spending continues to increase,…
Backgrounder
Read More: Government Union Political Spending in the 2021–22 Election CycleWelfare
Ending Poverty Starts With Increasing Work And Paychecks, Not Government Budgets
Originally published at The Federalist Lawmakers across the spectrum agree that poverty is a perennial crisis. But if they are ever going to come together to find an effective…
Media Hit
Read More: Ending Poverty Starts With Increasing Work And Paychecks, Not Government BudgetsEducation
School Choice Report, Episode 1
In this inaugural episode of School Choice Report, host David Hardy will take a deep dive into school choice with special guest and Sr. Vice President of the Commonwealth Foundation…
Podcast
Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 1
Pennsylvanians in poverty need government to get out of the way
Originally published in The Patriot-News Who is in poverty—and why—is often mischaracterized by both the political right and left. Some blame the poor for lacking a work ethic.
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvanians in poverty need government to get out of the wayState Budget
Governor Shapiro’s First Budget Falls Short
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s first state budget proposal perpetuates unsustainable spending and fails to address the most promising ideas he put forward during his campaign. For…
Media Hit
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s First Budget Falls ShortPublic Union Democracy
Will Teachers Unions’ Political Contributions Prevent School Choice in Pennsylvania?
Originally published at The Daily Signal A well-funded network of government unions stands in opposition to parents, students, and lawmakers eyeballing education reform in Pennsylvania. Until recently, they have cowed…
Media Hit
Read More: Will Teachers Unions’ Political Contributions Prevent School Choice in Pennsylvania?