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.
Public Union Democracy
AFSCME opposes unlimited government?!?
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (which runs 14 state universities, but not the “state-related” schools like Penn State and Pitt), banned all smoking on campus, both indoor and…
Media
Read More: AFSCME opposes unlimited government?!?Taxes & Economy
Paying for Our Paving: Why Leasing the Turnpike Makes Good Economic and Public Policy Sense
Introduction How should Pennsylvania pay for its transportation infrastructure, now that the Federal Highway Administration has rejected the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s application to toll Interstate 80? Gas taxes? Vehicle fees? …
Fact Sheet
Read More: Paying for Our Paving: Why Leasing the Turnpike Makes Good Economic and Public Policy SenseTaxes & Economy
New Efforts to Address Expiring Rate Caps
Yesterday, Rep. Mike Turzai, along with Rep. Stan Saylor, unveiled a new bill to stabilize electric rates after the expiration of rate caps (Turzai Press…
Media
Read More: New Efforts to Address Expiring Rate CapsGovernment Accountability
Why a special session on reform is needed
During a press conference calling on Cerberus and the House Democrats to pass a number of reform bills already passed unanimously by the Senate, contending that a special…
Media
Read More: Why a special session on reform is neededState Budget
Rendell orders budget cuts, hiring freeze
Following reports that tax revenue is well behind projections, Governor Rendell has announced plans to reduce state spending by $200 million, including ending (taxpayer funded) out-of-state travel by…
Media
Read More: Rendell orders budget cuts, hiring freezeTaxes & Economy
Turnpike Lease Back On The Table
The Philadelphia Bulletin has an article on the Turnpike lease facing real consideration now; the Daily Collegian and the Daily Item have similar pieces (HT GrassrootsPA).
Media
Read More: Turnpike Lease Back On The TableGovernment Accountability
Great Website on Fiscal Responsibility
Americans for Tax Reform has launched its Center for Fiscal Responsibility, a fantastic site dedicated to (as the name implies) fiscal responsibility in federal state and local government. I…
Media
Read More: Great Website on Fiscal ResponsibilityTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Turnpike Lease: Two years of deliberation
An anonymous poster remarks that “we don’t want to rush into anything (like leasing the Turnpike)”, and compares it to the rush to pass Act 44. He/she is correct…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Lease: Two years of deliberationState Budget
Why state governments spend too much
A report from the Rockefeller Institute at SUNY (news release) looks at state and local government spending on social welfare. After adjusting for inflation, they found that expenditures…
Media
Read More: Why state governments spend too muchGovernment Accountability
New Blog: Snippets of PA Capitol Coverage
Pennsylvania Legislative Service has a new blog, which will include some of their coverage of happenings at the state Capitol (previously available only to paid subscribers) such as wrap…
Media
Read More: New Blog: Snippets of PA Capitol CoverageTaxes & Economy
What now for Pennsylvania transportation funding, turnpike lease?
Joe Grata has an article in the Post-Gazette on what will happen now that the federal government has rejected I-80 tolling in Pennsylvania. As we pointed out…
Media
Read More: What now for Pennsylvania transportation funding, turnpike lease?State Budget
Lancaster County delegation doles out $3 million in WAMs
LancasterOnline breaks down the taxpayer-funded pork projects (WAMs) awarded by Lancaster County lawmakers. (HT: GrassrootsPA) Topics on this page GrassrootsPALancaster County…
Media
Read More: Lancaster County delegation doles out $3 million in WAMsGovernment Accountability
DeWeese boasts about House reforms
The Herald Standard has an article in which Bill DeWeese praises all the reforms the House has done under his watch. Eric Epstein and Tim Potts offer…
Media
Read More: DeWeese boasts about House reformsEducation
‘Tis the Season…for teacher strikes, that is.
Saucon Valley teachers who make nearly $80K are ready to strike. Nick Falsone writes on his Bedlam in Bethlehem blog for The Express-Times about elementary school teacher Vivian Demko,…
Media
Read More: ‘Tis the Season…for teacher strikes, that is.Taxes & Economy
Lease it!, says The Times-Tribune
Editorial from The Times-Tribune makes part of the case for leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike now that the Federal Highway Administration has rejected a key feature of Act 44…
Media
Read More: Lease it!, says The Times-TribuneTaxes & Economy
Turnpike lease on the move…
Toll Roads News is reporting that House Democratic Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans is ready to move the Turnpike lease bill, and additional support is gathering. Of course, the Turnpike…
Media
Read More: Turnpike lease on the move…Government Accountability
House Republican Caucus: Opening the Books
The House Republican Caucus has posted a number of contracts on the Treasurer’s website and announced they will start observing the new Open…
Media
Read More: House Republican Caucus: Opening the BooksTaxes & Economy
Feds Reject Tolls on I-80
It’s official, the Pennyslvania Turnpike Comission’s attempt to toll I-80 has been denied by the Federal Highway Administration. See our news release…
Media
Read More: Feds Reject Tolls on I-80Regulation
Thank You for (Not) Smoking
Pennsylvania’s smoking ban goes into effect today and has created a cloud of controversy statewide, with a less than enthusiastic response from the smoking public. The Department of Health has…
Media
Read More: Thank You for (Not) SmokingTaxes & Economy
The Reemerging Paradigm: Public-Private Partnerships
Government officials continue to decry the terrible condition of the state’s roads, but this time real solutions like public-private partnerships are receiving some support. On Monday, the House Transportation Committee…
Media
Read More: The Reemerging Paradigm: Public-Private PartnershipsEducation
The Harriet Tubman of School Choice
I’m in Phoenix for a conference of state think tanks and (with panels on education reform today), so I won’t be blogging much over the next few days. I will…
Media
Read More: The Harriet Tubman of School Choice