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.
Education
News Release: State Senate to Introduce Education Savings Accounts
In a step toward dramatically increasing educational opportunity for students in Pennsylvania’s lowest-performing schools, today Senator John DiSanto unveiled his plan to introduce legislation establishing Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) in…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: State Senate to Introduce Education Savings AccountsState Budget
State Borrowing the Result of Overspending
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania State Treasurer and Auditor General approved a short term “STIP” loan to cover cash flow. For reference, you can see the GF balance on the…
Media
Read More: State Borrowing the Result of OverspendingHealth Care
Higher Liquor Prices Just the Latest Hit to Pennsylvania Families
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced it would be arbitrarily raising prices on 422 wine and liquor products. This increase is a result of the “liquor modernization” efforts—which have…
Media
Read More: Higher Liquor Prices Just the Latest Hit to Pennsylvania FamiliesState Budget
Is State Spending “Cut to the Bone”?
One of the justifications Gov. Wolf uses to raise taxes—for the fifth time in nine years—is that state government spending has been relatively restrained. This argument suggests that other…
Media
Read More: Is State Spending “Cut to the Bone”?Education
Charter Schools Help District Schools
The evidence is clear that charter schools increase academic performance among students they serve. Some wonder, though, about charter schools’ impact on nearby public schools. Is it possible that…
Media
Read More: Charter Schools Help District SchoolsTaxes & Economy
SNAP Reform Shows Promising Results
Innovative work requirements have the potential to transform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from a program perpetuating poverty, to one fostering prosperity. Now, data released by the…
Media
Read More: SNAP Reform Shows Promising ResultsState Budget
Cost of Proposed Tax Hikes: 3,600 Jobs Lost
The tax hikes included in the revenue plan passed by the Senate (26-24) and supported by Gov. Wolf amount to nearly $600 million in total new taxes for next…
Testimony
Read More: Cost of Proposed Tax Hikes: 3,600 Jobs LostPublic Union Democracy
Erie Suspends Costly Ghost Teaching
Someone in Erie must have called the ghostbusters. Last August, the Erie School District and the Erie Education Association signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) ending ghost teaching in…
Media
Read More: Erie Suspends Costly Ghost TeachingRegulation
Liquor Privatization: The Cure for Power Plays and Tax Hikes
Get ready to pay more for alcohol in state stores. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is set to use its newly acquired power—via Act 39—to raise the…
Media
Read More: Liquor Privatization: The Cure for Power Plays and Tax HikesState Budget
Doubling Down on Tax Increases
Bucking calls to responsibly balance the budget, the state Senate passed a plan to borrow more than $1.2 billion and raise taxes by more than $570 million. The total tax…
Media
Read More: Doubling Down on Tax IncreasesState Budget
News Release: Senate’s Broad-Based Tax Hikes Should Be Rejected by House
In an effort to close a budget gap created by their own overspending, Senate lawmakers today passed a series of broad-based tax hikes that will hit nearly every Pennsylvania family…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Senate’s Broad-Based Tax Hikes Should Be Rejected by HouseEducation
Senate Nixes Tax Credit Scholarship Expansion
Late last night the Senate Appropriations Committee amended the Education Code, HB 178, without including an increase for Pennsylvania's popular tax credit scholarship programs. An earlier version of the…
Media
Read More: Senate Nixes Tax Credit Scholarship Expansion
Tax Hikes Won’t Fix Deficit, Reforms Will
Tax hikes won’t fix the structural deficit. We just raised taxes last year, having a devastating impact on vape shops, and have raised taxes four times in the last…
Media
Read More: Tax Hikes Won’t Fix Deficit, Reforms WillState Budget
More Bad Budget Ideas: Resurrecting the Home Heating Tax
With no clear path to a balanced budget, lawmakers have suggested resurrecting the long-dead natural gas receipts tax in order to pay for this year's $32 billion budget. Sound familiar?…
Media
Read More: More Bad Budget Ideas: Resurrecting the Home Heating TaxEducation
News Release: Wolf Rewards Ghost Teacher, Union Campaign Contributor with Cabinet Nomination
Failing to show up for work is usually grounds for dismissal, but for Gov. Wolf, it’s reason for promotion. In nominating Jerry Oleksiak as the next Secretary of Labor &…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Wolf Rewards Ghost Teacher, Union Campaign Contributor with Cabinet NominationHealth Care
Obamacare Continues to Destabilize Health Insurance
Obamacare repeal efforts have included transformative Medicaid reform, but retained many of the regulations responsible for collapsing individual markets. On Friday, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department released shocking individual insurance rate requests…
Media
Read More: Obamacare Continues to Destabilize Health InsuranceState Budget
Op-Ed: Should Pennsylvanians Pay More for The Walking Dead?
Thanks to last year’s state budget, you’re paying more to watch House of Cards. This year, The Walking Dead—and a host of other cable TV shows—could cost you more, too. …
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Should Pennsylvanians Pay More for The Walking Dead?Public Union Democracy
New Home Healthcare Scheme from Wolf Administration
Despite having his home health care executive order struck down by the Commonwealth Court last year, Gov. Wolf seems intent on funneling state money to his pals at the Service…
Media
Read More: New Home Healthcare Scheme from Wolf AdministrationEducation
Education Code Boosts Private Scholarships, Protects Excellent Teachers
The state House recently passed SB 227, which serves as the education code for the 2017-18 fiscal year. Chris Comisac of Capitolwire.com (paywall) has details on the substance…
Media
Read More: Education Code Boosts Private Scholarships, Protects Excellent TeachersState Budget
The Tax Hike Non-Solution
Contrary to the prevailing media narrative, it appears budget negotiations have taken a positive turn. According to Jason Gottesman of The PLS Reporter (paywall), House Republicans—led by Speaker Mike Turzai—have offered…
Media
Read More: The Tax Hike Non-SolutionEducation
Op-Ed: Contract Secrecy Plagues Public Schools
Taxpayers were kept in the dark, only to be slipped a $395 million bill—along with the admission that there’s no way to pay for it—at the 11th hour. These secret…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Contract Secrecy Plagues Public Schools