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.
Everything you need to know about Act 1
Tony Phyrillas says: “If you don’t spend much time at the Commonwealth Foundation’s Web site, shame on you”. This in reference to our Policy Point on Act 1.
Media
Read More: Everything you need to know about Act 1
Legislative sponges soak up tax dollars
Tony Phyrillas on the top uses of “Public Services Announcements” – i.e. taxpayer-funded advertising – in the Pennsylvania House. Topics on this page Public service…
Media
Read More: Legislative sponges soak up tax dollars
Scranton’s attack signals budget battle
Post-Gazette piece on Former Lt. Governor (and Commonwealth Foundation board member) Bill Scranton’s testimony on the budget. Look for the full testimony on our website tomorrow. Topics on…
Media
Read More: Scranton’s attack signals budget battleTaxes & Economy
Act 1 Property-to-Income Tax Shift
On May 15, 2007, voters across the Commonwealth will be asked to vote on a property-to-income tax shift to pay for public education expenditures. The Property Tax Relief Act of…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Act 1 Property-to-Income Tax Shift
Term Limits Fails in Committee
The Senate State Government Committee rejected, by a 2 to 9 vote, reporting John Eichelberger’s constitutional amendment on legislative term limits, to the full Senate (Sen. Eichelberger discussed his…
Media
Read More: Term Limits Fails in Committee
Where the Jobs Went
The Skeptical Optimist offers a “Bar Chart of Where the Jobs Went” – i.e. changes in the number of jobs by category over the last year. That is followed…
Media
Read More: Where the Jobs Went
Healthy state pension fund brings pressure for benefit increases
Mark Scolforo in the Morning Call on proposed reforms (and benefit increases) to the state pension system. Topics on this page Mark Scolforo…
Media
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Act 1 Tax Shift Coverage
Tribune-Review: Voters to decide Act 1 tax trade off. Allentown Morning Call: Act 1 is an awful law, it will divide communities Post-Gazette: Voters Guide 2007: School…
Media
Read More: Act 1 Tax Shift CoverageGovernment Accountability
Memo to Senate State Government Committee Members
MEMORANDUM TO: Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee Members (Senators Piccola, Folmer, A. Williams, Scarnati, Brubaker, Corman, Punt, McIhinney, Fontana, Hughes, and Tartaglione) FROM: Commonwealth Foundation, Democracy Rising PA, Rock the…
Commentary
Read More: Memo to Senate State Government Committee Members
Pittsburgh: America’s Most “Leavable” City
Bill Steigerwald in Reason Magazine: Pittsburgh is in a death spiral. It’s bankrupt. Its school district spends $16,000 a year per kid. Its parking tax is the highest…
Media
Read More: Pittsburgh: America’s Most “Leavable” City
Lawmakers reaped $50K-plus in freebies in ’06
Mark Scolforo reports on the gifts and other financial interests report by lawmakers. Not suprisingly, legislative leaders cashed in (even while claiming they were not): House Majority Leader…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers reaped $50K-plus in freebies in ’06
Turnpike Disavows “Mystery letter”
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission denies that a letter from an unknown organization PA Coalition for Sound Transportation Policy is really a front for turnpike officials (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review story).
Media
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Assembly’s Slow Pace Frustrates Reformers
Jim Panyard in The Evening Bulletin on the push for a Constitution Convention and the Senate State Government Committee’s plan to look at five proposed constitutional amendments at a…
Media
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Lawmakers Accused Of Abusing PSAs Part II
More from WGAL on lawmakers making use of taxpayer financed “Public Service Announcements” including samples of ads and their price tag. Topics on this page WGAL…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Accused Of Abusing PSAs Part IIGovernment Accountability
Taxpayers Need Protection
Delivered on Thursday, April 26, 2007 Good morning Chairman Corman, Senator Regola, and Senator Folmer. It is indeed a pleasure and an honor to be able to come before you…
Testimony
Read More: Taxpayers Need Protection
Lawmakers Use Your Money, PSAs As Campaign Tool
WGAL NBC 8 story on the use of taxpayer funds for “Public Service Announcements” around election time. The poll with the story indicates that a whopping 7% don’t feel…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Use Your Money, PSAs As Campaign Tool
Articles on the Budget
The Northeast PA Business Journal has four articles on the Rendell budget and related issues, all quoting me; the fourth article also features Commonwealth Foundation Senior Fellow Rick Dreyfuss:…
Media
Read More: Articles on the BudgetEducation
Change the Incentives in Education
Thank you Chairman Armstrong and members of the Appropriations Committee for the opportunity to discuss the impact of Governor Rendell’s education proposals. You have already heard and are going to…
Commentary
Read More: Change the Incentives in Education
Environmental “watchdog” feeds off taxpayers
Capitolwire reports that the neo-socialist environmental group PennFuture received over $1 million in state grants from the Ministry of Propoganda Departments of Environmental Protection and Conservation & Natural Resources.
Media
Read More: Environmental “watchdog” feeds off taxpayers
School Choice Works!
In today’s Appropriations Committee hearing on education Sen. Pat Browne questioned Andy LeFevre of the Reach Foundation on the academic achievement effects of school choice. There has in…
Media
Read More: School Choice Works!
Groups argue merits of proposed pre-K state funding hike
From Capitolwire.com (subscription): Two private school groups told the state Senate Appropriations Committee Tuesday not to support $75 million in new state funding for pre-kindergarten classes. State support…
Media
Read More: Groups argue merits of proposed pre-K state funding hike