Headshot

Robert O’Donnell

Education Senior Fellow

The Honorable Robert W. O’Donnell is an Education Senior Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation.

Bob is a Philadelphia-based attorney and a former Democratic Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. As a member of the House for 19 years, Bob rose through the ranks of leadership, serving as caucus chairman, majority whip, majority leader, and Speaker of the House. While in public service, he developed a reputation as a thoughtful, dynamic, and intellectually honest member of the House. He has been a consistent advocate for equality of opportunity including supporting school choice throughout his tenure in the legislature.

Bob has served as a member of Public Employees Retirement Study Commission, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, the Board of Trustees of the University of Pittsburgh, the Mayor’s Tax Budget and Advisory Committee (Philadelphia), the Chesapeake Bay Commission, the General State Authority, the Mayor’s Economic Recovery Task Force (Philadelphia), the Millrite Council, and the Philadelphia Port Corporation Board of Directors.

He is a graduate of Temple University and its law school and attended The Hague Academy of International Law. Arcadia College and Philadelphia University awarded Bod honorary degrees, and he has received several public awards including citations from the Pennsylvania League of Cities Service and Common Cause.

Bob resides in Chestnut Hill with his wife, Dr. Donna Gentile O’Donnell.

Public Union Democracy

Good News for Forced Union Fee Payers

  • Jessica Barnett
  • September 29, 2017

For public employees forced to subsidize union politics—or lose their jobs—a U.S. Supreme Court announcement yesterday signals a potential end to this workplace coercion.   The Court indicated it will…

Media

Read More: Good News for Forced Union Fee Payers

State Budget

What’s Next for the 2017-18 Budget?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2017

What does the Senate's vote to non-concur mean? How does a conference committee work? How does the credit downgrade affect the budget? Negotiations over the 2017-18 budget have raised interesting…

Memo

Read More: What’s Next for the 2017-18 Budget?

Education

Gov. Wolf’s Indefensible Decisions Continue to Hurt Students

  • September 28, 2017

Pennsylvania’s successful scholarship programs—the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC)—are in danger once again. The Wolf Administration has delayed the programs’ approval letters, which…

Media

Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Indefensible Decisions Continue to Hurt Students

Around the State

  • September 26, 2017

 In May, Matt Brouillette of Commonwealth Partners, George Coates, Commonwealth Foundation board treasurer, and Commonwealth Foundation President & CEO Charles Mitchell had the privilege of touring Pepperidge Farm's facility in…

Commentary

Read More: Around the State

Around the State

  • September 26, 2017

 In May, Matt Brouillette of Commonwealth Partners, George Coates, Commonwealth Foundation board treasurer, and Commonwealth Foundation President & CEO Charles Mitchell had the privilege of touring Pepperidge Farm's facility in…

Commentary

Read More: Around the State

Meet Lenny McAllister

  • September 25, 2017

Lenny McAllister joined CF in early 2017 as the first director of entrepreneur engagement in western Pennsylvania. Recently, CF Vice President Jennifer Stefano sat down with Lenny to discuss his…

Commentary

Read More: Meet Lenny McAllister

Meet Lenny McAllister

  • September 25, 2017

Lenny McAllister joined CF in early 2017 as the first director of entrepreneur engagement in western Pennsylvania. Recently, CF Vice President Jennifer Stefano sat down with Lenny to discuss his…

Commentary

Read More: Meet Lenny McAllister

State Budget Update

  • September 25, 2017

On the last day of the state’s fiscal year, the General Assembly passed a $32 billion budget that boosts state spending by $500 million, but lawmakers didn’t say how they’d…

Commentary

Read More: State Budget Update

State Budget Update

  • September 25, 2017

On the last day of the state’s fiscal year, the General Assembly passed a $32 billion budget that boosts state spending by $500 million, but lawmakers didn’t say how they’d…

Commentary

Read More: State Budget Update

Follow Our Lead

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2017

Those seeking a return to fiscal sanity should take heart: Significant reforms are advancing at the state level that could spur a bottom-up course correction across the country—and Pennsylvania is…

Commentary

Read More: Follow Our Lead

Follow Our Lead

  • September 25, 2017

Those seeking a return to fiscal sanity should take heart: Significant reforms are advancing at the state level that could spur a bottom-up course correction across the country—and Pennsylvania is…

Commentary

Read More: Follow Our Lead

A Visitor’s Guide to Buying Booze in PA

  • September 25, 2017

Planning a dinner? Picking up a hostess gift? Here’s our handy shopping guide to keep things E.A.S.Y.* (*Every Annoying Stop You have to make to get what you need.)…

Commentary

Read More: A Visitor’s Guide to Buying Booze in PA

A Visitor’s Guide to Buying Booze in PA

  • September 25, 2017

Planning a dinner? Picking up a hostess gift? Here’s our handy shopping guide to keep things E.A.S.Y.* (*Every Annoying Stop You have to make to get what you need.)…

Commentary

Read More: A Visitor’s Guide to Buying Booze in PA

Note From the Team Aug-Sept 2017

  • September 25, 2017

The editor explains how the state budget impacted printing this summer and why pension reform was such an important victory.

Commentary

Read More: Note From the Team Aug-Sept 2017

Note From the Team Aug-Sept 2017

  • September 25, 2017

The editor explains how the state budget impacted printing this summer and why pension reform was such an important victory.

Commentary

Read More: Note From the Team Aug-Sept 2017