gianna depaul

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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.

Government Accountability

Should 18 year-olds be allowed to drink (legally)?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 26, 2008

A large group of college presidents have launched an initiative to lower the legal drinking age from 21 to18. Their argument is that 18 to 21 year…

Media

Read More: Should 18 year-olds be allowed to drink (legally)?

State Budget

He’s not Santa Claus

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2008

The Herald Standard has an editorial about all of Governor Rendell’s taxpayer-funded “gifts” to Pennsylvania. While they don’t claim that any of these expenditures are misguided (though we pull…

Media

Read More: He’s not Santa Claus

Education

The Competitive Impact of School Choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2008

A reader asks, in response to a post about a study show school choice in Ohio had a competitive benefit to public schools, Do you have…

Media

Read More: The Competitive Impact of School Choice

Government Accountability

16 days of work in six months may tire House

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2008

Eric Heyl, with a hint of sarcasm, suggests that the 16 days the PA House (and the 10 days for the PA Senate) is scheduled to be in session between July…

Media

Read More: 16 days of work in six months may tire House

Education

Is PHEAA reformable?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2008

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review questions whether PHEAA can be reformed, as the Auditor General suggests, given that the legislators who dominate the PHEAA board don’t think legislators should vote to…

Media

Read More: Is PHEAA reformable?

Education

School Choice Benefits Ohio Public Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2008

A new study from the Friedman Foundation finds that Ohio’s EdChoice voucher program – offering scholarships to students in failing schools – resulted in academic improvements in voucher-eligible public…

Media

Read More: School Choice Benefits Ohio Public Schools

Government Accountability

A Pennsylvania Movie Script: U.S.A. v. FUMO Trial Memorandum

  • August 23, 2008

The U.S. Attorney General’s Trial Memorandum for the upcoming federal trial, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. VINCENT J. FUMO & RUTH ARNAO, reads like a movie script. Unfortunately,…

Media

Read More: A Pennsylvania Movie Script: U.S.A. v. FUMO Trial Memorandum

Education

Protect Our Kids from Preschool

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2008

Shikha Dalmia and Lisa Snell have a an editorial in the Wall Street Journal about the merits of universal preschool: In the last half-century, U.S. preschool attendance…

Media

Read More: Protect Our Kids from Preschool

Taxes & Economy

Toll on integrity: The turnpike chairman owes the public an answer

  • August 22, 2008

Finally! We were beginning to wonder if anybody is paying attention to the role of the Turnpike Commission’s Chairman in Sen. Fumo’s 139-count federal indictment. Although the Turnpike Commission claims…

Media

Read More: Toll on integrity: The turnpike chairman owes the public an answer

Regulation

Rendell: “Pennsylvania’s economy is awesome, thanks to me”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 22, 2008

Hat Tip to Tony Phryillas for this story I almost missed – Governor Rendell attacked the Allegheny Institute for pointing out that Pennsylvania’s exorbitant economic development spending…

Media

Read More: Rendell: “Pennsylvania’s economy is awesome, thanks to me”

Regulation

Ski for Free!

  • August 22, 2008

Well, we doubt you’ll get to ski for free, but you should. Seven Springs Mountain Resort–which lost $220,000 after it took over operations of the Laurael Mountain Ski Area–is poised…

Media

Read More: Ski for Free!

Education

A Real Pennsylvania School “Report Card”

  • August 21, 2008

New report offers more accurate measure of education achievement HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released A Pennsylvania School Report Card: How the Commonwealth’s Public Schools Stack Up to…

Press Release

Read More: A Real Pennsylvania School “Report Card”

Education

A Pennsylvania School Report Card

  • August 21, 2008

Politicians and school officials frequently point to student performance  on state tests as a primary measure of the quality of public education.  According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the…

Fact Sheet

Read More: A Pennsylvania School Report Card

Taxes & Economy

In praise of compromise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 21, 2008

The May edition of The Freeman has a creat commentary on  Compromise, Principles, and Politics. Essentially the piece makes the point that “compromise” (or “bipartisanship”) in politics is akin to…

Media

Read More: In praise of compromise

Government Accountability

California Lawmaker Kicked Out of Capitol

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 21, 2008

From The Club For Growth blog: Democratic leaders in the California legislature kicked Assemblywoman Nicole Parra out of the Capitol building because she didn’t…

Media

Read More: California Lawmaker Kicked Out of Capitol

Education

Money, Money, Money

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 21, 2008

Teachers in Scranton are striking for more money Mid Valley school district officials are being criticized for spending too much money PHEAA is under scrutiny for recklessly…

Media

Read More: Money, Money, Money

Government Accountability

Missouri study of merit selection of judges

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 21, 2008

One topic that came up in our luncheon on a state Constitutional Convention was merit selection of judges (we also held a luncheon on that topic earlier this…

Media

Read More: Missouri study of merit selection of judges

Government Accountability

Is Pennsylvania Ready for a Constitutional Convention?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 20, 2008

Video from yesterday’s luncheon on Reviving Reform: Is it Time for a Constitutional Convention? featuring Sen. Jeff Piccola and Rep. Rosemarie Swanger is now available on our YouTube…

Media

Read More: Is Pennsylvania Ready for a Constitutional Convention?

Education

Phix PHEAA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 20, 2008

Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner has released his audit of PHEAA, recommending among other things that PHEAA’s board not be dominated by legislators (news release here).  Wagner does…

Media

Read More: Phix PHEAA