Mimi O’Grady
Policy Integration Manager
Marilyn (Mimi) O’Grady is the Policy Integration Manager at Commonwealth Foundation. Mimi schedules, plans, prioritizes, and oversees special projects for the Chief Policy Officer in executing Commonwealth Foundation’s policy agenda to ensure all Pennsylvanians can flourish.
Prior to joining Commonwealth Foundation, Mimi worked for Americans for Fair Treatment and scheduled for several U.S. Representatives and a U.S. Senator. Mimi graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in public relations and cultivated her passion for and experience in logistics while working on Capitol Hill. A Pittsburgh native, Mimi currently lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and sons and enjoys cooking, historical fiction, and spending time outside.
New Case from the Fairness Center: Hartnett, et al. v. Pennsylvania State Education Association, et al.
Forcing teachers against their will to fund unions and political collective bargaining violates teachers’ constitutional rights of free speech and free association. Teachers and other public employees should not have…
Commentary
Read More: New Case from the Fairness Center: Hartnett, et al. v. Pennsylvania State Education Association, et al.
After Obamacare: Myths & Facts
Will people lose insurance? Will hospitals lose money? Are jobs going to be lost? The truth of Obamacare repeal is more optimistic. …
Commentary
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After Obamacare: Myths & Facts
Will people lose insurance? Will hospitals lose money? Are jobs going to be lost? The truth of Obamacare repeal is more optimistic. …
Commentary
Read More: After Obamacare: Myths & Facts
End Perks for the Politically Connected
Success is determined by who lobbies better, not by who makes the best product at an affordable price. The result? A few businesses “win” at their competitors’ expense, and taxpayers…
Commentary
Read More: End Perks for the Politically Connected
End Perks for the Politically Connected
Success is determined by who lobbies better, not by who makes the best product at an affordable price. The result? A few businesses “win” at their competitors’ expense, and taxpayers…
Commentary
Read More: End Perks for the Politically Connected
Time to End Special Interest Loophole
Because of a legal carveout for special interests, Pennsylvania has been mixing public resources and politics for years. But that carveout could soon end.
Commentary
Read More: Time to End Special Interest Loophole
Time to End Special Interest Loophole
Because of a legal carveout for special interests, Pennsylvania has been mixing public resources and politics for years. But that carveout could soon end.
Commentary
Read More: Time to End Special Interest Loophole
Choice is a Win for Students
In the aftermath of Betsy DeVos’s confirmation as Secretary of Education, opponents beleive the sky is falling on public education. DeVos is a well-known school choice advocate who believes in…
Commentary
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Choice is a Win for Students
In the aftermath of Betsy DeVos’s confirmation as Secretary of Education, opponents beleive the sky is falling on public education. DeVos is a well-known school choice advocate who believes in…
Commentary
Read More: Choice is a Win for Students
Double-Down on Reinventing Government
What's different about Wolf's third budget address? Record-setting income and sales tax increases? Gone. Partisan rhetoric? Mollified. Massive spending hikes? Absent. Instead, Wolf targeted bureaucratic waste to close the ever-widening…
Commentary
Read More: Double-Down on Reinventing Government
Double-Down on Reinventing Government
What's different about Wolf's third budget address? Record-setting income and sales tax increases? Gone. Partisan rhetoric? Mollified. Massive spending hikes? Absent. Instead, Wolf targeted bureaucratic waste to close the ever-widening…
Commentary
Read More: Double-Down on Reinventing Government
Did You Hear April-May
We applaud the House and Speaker Turzai for acting to give thousands more students access to educational options that best meet their unique needs. …
Commentary
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Did You Hear April-May
We applaud the House and Speaker Turzai for acting to give thousands more students access to educational options that best meet their unique needs. …
Commentary
Read More: Did You Hear April-May
Note from the Team April-May
The Commonwealth Foundation team is growing! …
Commentary
Read More: Note from the Team April-May
Note from the Team April-May
The Commonwealth Foundation team is growing! …
Commentary
Read More: Note from the Team April-MayRegulation
The Keystone State of Corporate Welfare
Pennsylvania’s corporate welfare culture is pervasive. The state has the dubious distinction of leading the nation in subsidy payments since 2007—without getting much in return. This large transfer of wealth…
Media
Read More: The Keystone State of Corporate WelfareState Budget
Adventures in State Budget Wonderland
In Lewis Carroll’s classic wonderland tale, Alice famously asks the Cheshire Cat, “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” the…
Media
Read More: Adventures in State Budget WonderlandHealth Care
A New Wave of Welfare Reform
Governors across the country are proposing game-changing welfare reforms and Pennsylvania should follow their example. Yesterday, Maine submitted a waiver to the federal government asking for permission…
Media
Read More: A New Wave of Welfare ReformRegulation
News Release: House Passes Significant Liquor Reform Bills
Yesterday, the House passed significant liquor reforms designed to end state government’s senseless stranglehold on the wine and liquor industry. Sponsored by House Speaker Mike Turzai, HB 975 builds…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: House Passes Significant Liquor Reform BillsTaxes & Economy
News Release: Senate Committee Advances Vape Tax Fix
Today, in the latest attempt to fix an onerous tax responsible for as many as 100 vape shop closures across the state, the Senate Finance Committee advanced SB…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Senate Committee Advances Vape Tax FixGovernment Accountability
Senate Moves Key Transparency Measures
Today the Senate's State Government Committee advanced three bills to open up government collective bargaining negotiations to the public. SB 168, sponsored by Sen. Pat Stefano, would require all levels of government…
Media
Read More: Senate Moves Key Transparency Measures