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.
Tolling of I-80 Denied
Federal government rejects Turnpike proposal to toll I-80 drivers HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation applauds the decision of the Federal Highway Administration to reject the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s (PTC)…
Press Release
Read More: Tolling of I-80 DeniedHealth Care
State Mandates Result in High Price Tags
A recent news release from the National Center for Policy Analysis underscores the reason for soaring health coverage costs across the nation: state mandates and no national competition. The…
Media
Read More: State Mandates Result in High Price TagsTaxes & Economy
Extending Rate Caps is Not the Answer
Yesterday, Govenor Rendell declared he would have “no choice” but to support an extension of the rate caps if the legislature fails to act on rising electricity rates. This…
Media
Read More: Extending Rate Caps is Not the Answer
Tolling I-80 and the Presidential Election
The theme of change has dominated the presidential election. Both Barack Obama and John McCain (and their vice presidential picks) tout themselves as agents of change, ready to reform…
Commentary
Read More: Tolling I-80 and the Presidential ElectionState Budget
Who opposed the Bridge to Nowhere?
NTU sums up the “Bridge to Nowhere” opposition: Sarah Palin has declared she said “thanks, but no thanks” on the Bridge to Nowhere. And it’s true, that she stopped…
Media
Read More: Who opposed the Bridge to Nowhere?Government Accountability
As Sentor Fumo’s Trial Begins the Spending Continues
Senator Vince Fumo's trial began yesterday with the first day of jury selection. In the days leading up to the trial the senator was doing what he does best:…
Media
Read More: As Sentor Fumo’s Trial Begins the Spending ContinuesTaxes & Economy
More comments on the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac takeover
Cato’s Ed Crane writes Fannie and Freddie: Socialist from the Start. His colleague, David Boaz, notes:…
Media
Read More: More comments on the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac takeoverGovernment Accountability
Past Time to Clean Up Harrisburg
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has a couple of stories on corruption in the Capitol. One is a query about the $10 million in taxpayer grants directed to the Beaver…
Media
Read More: Past Time to Clean Up HarrisburgTaxes & Economy
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: Avoiding the Next Big Mistake
As the feds propose a government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Heritage Foundation has a new WebMemo on what to do an what not to…
Media
Read More: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: Avoiding the Next Big MistakeTaxes & Economy
New Facts and Resources on Transportation Funding
We have revised our PolicyPoints on Act 44 and Transportation Funding More Resources: Turnpike Lease/BidTurnpikeFacts.comFull Concession Agreement – Governor’s OfficeSynopsis of Lease Requirements/Limits…
Media
Read More: New Facts and Resources on Transportation FundingGovernment Accountability
Does Government Need to Fund R&D?
An interesting query on the role of government in research and new technologies from OpenMarket.org. The insight is relevant both for topics like bio-fuel research and stem-cell research, but…
Media
Read More: Does Government Need to Fund R&D?Health Care
McCain and Obama on Health Care
While health care policy won’t get the level of media coverage as Sarah Palin’s teenage daughter or Barack Obama’s crazy pastor, some people might be interested in looking at the candidates proposals…
Media
Read More: McCain and Obama on Health CareTaxes & Economy
Act 44 & Transportation Funding
In July 2007, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed and Governor Ed Rendell signed Act 44. This legislation authorized the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) to increase tolls on the Turnpike;…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Act 44 & Transportation FundingPublic Union Democracy
Todd Palin is Bankrolling Efforts to Defeat His Wife
If you saw this blog title and thought there was something out whack, as I did, well you are right, but not because Todd Palin is deliberating undermining his wife.
Media
Read More: Todd Palin is Bankrolling Efforts to Defeat His WifeEducation
Schools failing, but don’t give students choices
Tribune-Review article highlights chronically failing schools in the Pittsburgh area (see our report on school perfomance for more how schools are doing), and the No Child Left Behind mandate…
Media
Read More: Schools failing, but don’t give students choicesTaxes & Economy
End of the “Second Whiskey Rebellion”?
The Allegheny Institute writes that a court ruling, disallowing a referendum on the Allegheny County drink tax, will likely be overturned on appeal, because is so shoddy. Pittsburgh…
Media
Read More: End of the “Second Whiskey Rebellion”?Government Accountability
Open the Books on Government Spending
Imagine a website where you could instantly find information about the salary of your legislator or the amount of money your school district spends on textbooks. Think of a database…
Commentary
Read More: Open the Books on Government SpendingTaxes & Economy
Compare the Presidential Candidates Tax Plans
The Tax Foundation has a tool offering side-by-side comparisons of tax proposals Bob Barr, Chuck Baldwin, Cynthia McKinney, and Ralph Nader. For all you policy wonks, you can also…
Media
Read More: Compare the Presidential Candidates Tax PlansTaxes & Economy
Turnpike lease would be model for investing in infrastructure
Patriot News editorial notes that the proposed Turnpike lease deal would make PA a model for the nation. It’s not that the public-private partnership concept being pushed…
Media
Read More: Turnpike lease would be model for investing in infrastructureTaxes & Economy
Offshore drilling to being on October 1?
A Heritage Foundation webmemo articulates the fact that all Congress needs to do allow offshore drilling is not extend the moratorium – set to expire on Sept. 30. They…
Media
Read More: Offshore drilling to being on October 1?Taxes & Economy
Turnpike Commission Triples Act 44 Debt from $14 Billion to $44 Billion
Unpaid debt increases from $0 to $73 billion under PTC’s revised plans HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation presented an analysis of the proposed debt under the Pennsylvania…
Press Release
Read More: Turnpike Commission Triples Act 44 Debt from $14 Billion to $44 Billion