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.
Education
Emergency Education Scholarship Accounts
Educational impacts from COVID-19 will reverberate for years—particularly for students who are already struggling. Emergency ESAs can help stem learning losses and keep kids on a path to success.
Memo
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Telemedicine Bill Could Save Lives, but Special Interests Stand in the Way
Around the country, states are embracing telemedicine as the new norm in primary and continuing care. Pennsylvania is one of just eight states without laws governing telemedicine.
Commentary
Read More: Telemedicine Bill Could Save Lives, but Special Interests Stand in the WayEducation
Pennsylvania Kids and Schools in Crisis: How to Save Them
Pennsylvania private schools serve over 200,000 kids, many of them low- to middle-income. If private schools are forced to close, public schools will have enormous new costs as they try to…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania Kids and Schools in Crisis: How to Save ThemHealth Care
Is it Easier to Be Tiger King Than Buy Booze in Pennsylvania?
For Pennsylvanians, mixing up their favorite cocktail and following the adventures of an off-the-wall zoo owner named Joe Exotic might be easier said than done. State-run liquor stores shut down…
Commentary
Read More: Is it Easier to Be Tiger King Than Buy Booze in Pennsylvania?Government Accountability
Wolf Makes Reopening Concessions, but Stops Short of Transparency
April 20, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Governor Wolf vetoed a bill, SB 613, that would have brought clarity to Pennsylvania’s controversial business shutdown and provided hope for the future. But…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf Makes Reopening Concessions, but Stops Short of TransparencyHealth Care
Pa. Legislature Leads National Move Toward Safe Reopening
April 15, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, the Pennsylvania State Legislature passed a bill that would partially repeal Gov. Tom Wolf’s sweeping shutdown of so-called “non-life-sustaining” businesses, which has caused more than 1.3…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Legislature Leads National Move Toward Safe ReopeningCriminal Justice Reform
Ensure Prisoner Release is Reasonable and Safe During COVID-19
April 10, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Governor Wolf announced that his administration will be releasing qualified state prisoners under the Temporary Program to Reprieve Sentences of Incarceration Program. The Commonwealth Foundation…
Press Release
Read More: Ensure Prisoner Release is Reasonable and Safe During COVID-19Education
Top 5 Questions about Homeschooling
We're suddenly homeschoolers—what now? How do I handle educating kids of various ages? What resources are available? We've got the answers you're looking for! …
Commentary
Read More: Top 5 Questions about HomeschoolingRegulation
Op-Ed: Coronavirus Crackdown Exposes Failing Government Liquor Monopoly
The state liquor monopoly, not the coronavirus, caused the present alcohol shortage. Now is the time to push for changes.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Coronavirus Crackdown Exposes Failing Government Liquor MonopolyEducation
Op-Ed: With classes canceled for weeks, schools must embrace innovation
Now is the time for the Philadelphia School District to embrace innovation, creativity, and critical thinking.
Commentary
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Op-Ed: State Lawmakers Must Act Now to Mitigate Crisis
In this time of uncertainty, lawmakers must not be passive. Instead, they should advance their own solutions to the problems developing in their districts and among their constituents. …
Commentary
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Education During Coronavirus
Education is not what it was two months ago. From parents to politicians, everyone is grappling with how to keep kids lives and schooling just a bit normal. Our education…
Commentary
Read More: Education During CoronavirusHealth Care
Pennsylvania’s Budget Is Not Crisis Proof
COVID-19 has highlighted some of the cracks in our current budget system. Sticking to these budget basics will help Pennsylvania withstand the current crisis, as well as reform the budget…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Budget Is Not Crisis ProofCriminal Justice Reform
How Pa. Can Keep Prisons and Communities Safe During Coronavirus
Pennsylvania’s prisons and jails are particularly vulnerable to the quick spread of COVID-19. Here are several recommendations for mitigating the risk in our corrections system while protecting public safety. …
Fact Sheet
Read More: How Pa. Can Keep Prisons and Communities Safe During CoronavirusHealth Care
Wolf’s Business Shutdown is Broken, Here’s How to Fix It
Gov. Wolf’s shutdown of “non-life-essential" businesses has caused more than 1.1 million Pennsylvania workers to lose their jobs in the last three weeks alone. This unprecedented loss of income is…
Commentary
Read More: Wolf’s Business Shutdown is Broken, Here’s How to Fix ItTaxes & Economy
State Unemployment Fund Returns to Crisis
The unemployment insurance fund was neither properly replenished nor reformed after running out of money in 2008. It is about to run out of money again. …
Commentary
Read More: State Unemployment Fund Returns to CrisisHealth Care
Cyber Charter School Teachers Speak Out
Pennsylvania parents who may not have given any consideration to cyber public charter schools previously are doing that now in the wake of the coronavirus. This has the education establishment upset…
Commentary
Read More: Cyber Charter School Teachers Speak OutEducation
Understanding Cyber Charter Schools
Misconceptions abound when it comes to cyber charter schools—and opponents use that confusion to attack this important option. In the current era of school shutdowns, it's more important than ever…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Understanding Cyber Charter SchoolsHealth Care
Stories of Hope and Flourishing in Pennsylvania during COVID-19
It’s all too easy to fall into the pit of bad news these days. But thankfully, people and markets are creative and charitable, especially in tough times. Here are some…
Commentary
Read More: Stories of Hope and Flourishing in Pennsylvania during COVID-19Health Care
Pennsylvania Can Beat COVID-19. Here’s How
It’s a thin tightrope to walk, but lawmakers must balance policies that keep Pennsylvanians safe with those that empower medical workers, protect the health care supply chain, and …
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania Can Beat COVID-19. Here’s How
Harrisburg & COVID-19
How is state government reacting to the coronavirus? And what can the Legislature do to help alleviate the pain Pennsylvania is enduring?…
Commentary
Read More: Harrisburg & COVID-19