Jessica Fannin
Marketing Coordinator
Jessica Fannin is the Marketing Coordinator at the Commonwealth Foundation.
She brings to the public affairs team a background in storytelling fueled by strategic audience engagement, videography, and digital media.
A graduate of Messiah University, Jessica earned her bachelor’s degree in broadcasting and journalism. During her time at Messiah, she was a podcast host for the student radio station and an Emmy-nominated student journalist. Additionally, she gained experience through internships at a Christian TV station, a videography company, and a financial-planning firm.
Jessica is passionate about finding creative ways to connect with an audience and deliver messages that resonate. At the core of her work is a love for people and the drive to share stories that matter.
When she is not at work, Jessica enjoys staying active with activities like line dancing, exercising, and exploring new trails.
Public Union Democracy
David Osborne Joins The Guy Benson Show on Fox News Radio
Government unions spent over $900 million in political spending in the 2024 election cycle, funded almost entirely by members’ dues. David Osborne, Sr. Director of Labor Policy at the Commonwealth…
Media Hit
Read More: David Osborne Joins The Guy Benson Show on Fox News RadioEducation
Special Needs Students Need School Choice
Originally published by The Philadelphia Citizen. Shannon Mitchell will never forget the first words from her nonverbal eight-year-old daughter, Brianna. “Hi, mama,” Briana said after getting…
Media Hit
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Commonwealth Foundation Ranks as One of the Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pa., December 16, 2025 — Central Penn Business Journal and Lehigh Valley Business have named Commonwealth Foundation as one of the Best Places to Work in Pennsylvania. Commonwealth Foundation…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Ranks as One of the Best Places to Work in PennsylvaniaEducation
Public School Districts Leave Special-Needs Students, Families with Few Options
Harrisburg, Pa., December 16, 2025 — Traditional public schools leave students with disabilities on months- or years-long wait lists for compliance with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), according to a new report from the Commonwealth Foundation. If a public school district fails to meet the…
Press Release
Read More: Public School Districts Leave Special-Needs Students, Families with Few OptionsEnergy
The Future Of Energy Policy Begins In Pennsylvania
Originally published by the Daily Caller. As states grapple with rising electricity prices, lawmakers struggle to strike a balance between affordable energy and responsible environmental stewardship. Achieving both…
Media Hit
Read More: The Future Of Energy Policy Begins In PennsylvaniaHealth Care
Fraud is the Legacy of Obamacare, but Affordability Can Be Its Future
Originally published by The Pottstown–Mercury. Lorie and Randy Delaney enrolled in an Ohio exchange plan. When they received a $1,096 bill for Rand’s insulin prescription, the couple knew something was…
Media Hit
Read More: Fraud is the Legacy of Obamacare, but Affordability Can Be Its FutureEducation
Shadow School Choice: How Public Education Spending Fails Special Needs Students
Overview Despite year-after-year increases to special education funding, too often, students with special needs are left behind. The U.S. Department of Education guarantees a free appropriate…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Shadow School Choice: How Public Education Spending Fails Special Needs StudentsPublic Union Democracy
Union Political Spending Heavily Targeted Pennsylvania during 2024 Election
Harrisburg, Pa., December 8, 2025 — Government unions steered $12.8 million to influence elections in Pennsylvania during the 2023-24 election cycle. Pennsylvania was the 5th highest recipient of union dollars,…
Press Release
Read More: Union Political Spending Heavily Targeted Pennsylvania during 2024 ElectionPublic Union Democracy
Government Unions Spent $915 Million on Politics in 2024
Harrisburg, Pa., December 8, 2025 — Four of the largest national government unions combined to spend more than $915 million on political and ideological causes in the 2023-24 election cycle.
Press Release
Read More: Government Unions Spent $915 Million on Politics in 2024Public Union Democracy
The Battle for Worker Freedom: How Government Unions Fund Politics Across the Country
Key Findings During the 2023–24 election cycle, the four biggest public sector unions—the National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and American Federation…
Report
Read More: The Battle for Worker Freedom: How Government Unions Fund Politics Across the CountryEnergy
Pennsylvania Needs More Energy and Sensible Regulation to Lure Data Centers
Originally published by Broad and Liberty. In July, nearly two dozen companies gathered in Pittsburgh, along with President Donald Trump and other leaders, to announce investments in data centers and…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Needs More Energy and Sensible Regulation to Lure Data CentersEnergy
‘Affordability First’ Is Flipping the Script on Energy Policy
Originally published by Real Clear Pennsylvania. In early November, U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson’s (R-Ohio) simple Affordable, Reliable, and Clean Energy Security Act underscored the titanic shift in…
Media Hit
Read More: ‘Affordability First’ Is Flipping the Script on Energy Policy
Josh Shapiro Lost His Own Government Shutdown
Originally published by The Wall Street Journal. Some herald Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as the future of the Democratic Party. But in a budget battle in his own…
Media Hit
Read More: Josh Shapiro Lost His Own Government ShutdownState Budget
The Highs and Lows of the New Pennsylvania Budget
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. After a four-month impasse, Pennsylvania lawmakers finally delivered the 2025–26 state budget. The newly minted spending plan offers some meaningful policy victories,…
Media Hit
Read More: The Highs and Lows of the New Pennsylvania BudgetGovernment Accountability
All Eyes Are on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Integrity is doing the right thing—even if nobody is watching. However, after this month’s election, it’s clear that Pennsylvanians are watching. Our…
Media Hit
Read More: All Eyes Are on the Pennsylvania Supreme CourtEnergy
Pennsylvania’s Future Looks Much Brighter Without RGGI
Orginally published by PennLive. The future of Pennsylvania energy looks bright—especially after lawmakers ended the threat of what could have been a devastating carbon tax.
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Future Looks Much Brighter Without RGGIPublic Union Democracy
Unions Spend Big on Politics—Often at the Expense of Their Members
Originally published by Broad + Liberty. Pennsylvania’s judicial-retention election was the biggest in the commonwealth’s history. This seemingly innocuous off-year election drew at least …
Media Hit
Read More: Unions Spend Big on Politics—Often at the Expense of Their MembersWelfare
Kids Didn’t Vote to be Hungry
Originally published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Of all the political issues we endure, childhood hunger—I assumed—would somehow rise above the fray. But I was wrong. Somehow,…
Media Hit
Read More: Kids Didn’t Vote to be HungryPublic Union Democracy
What Powers Union Politics? Dues Money
Originally published by The Wall Street Journal. That big-labor bosses favor Democratic candidates isn’t news, but some unionized workers might be interested—and startled—to learn how much…
Media Hit
Read More: What Powers Union Politics? Dues MoneyEducation
Despite Shapiro’s Failed Leadership, 2025-26 Budget Secures Key Permitting Wins, Ends Threat of RGGI
Harrisburg, Pa., November 12, 2025 — Despite Gov. Josh Shapiro’s failed leadership and a 135-day stalemate, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed a compromise budget for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. The Commonwealth Foundation has released…
Press Release
Read More: Despite Shapiro’s Failed Leadership, 2025-26 Budget Secures Key Permitting Wins, Ends Threat of RGGIEducation
What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 State Budget
Summary Four months late, Gov. Josh Shapiro and state lawmakers agreed on a state budget deal. The agreement spends $1.4 billion less than Shapiro’s reckless, extreme proposal, and uses excessive…
Backgrounder
Read More: What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 State Budget