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.

State Budget

Audio: The Real Danger of a Severance Tax

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • August 19, 2015

The Pennsylvania state budget remains long overdue, mostly due to Gov. Wolf’s misconstrued idea of compromise. He continues to insist on a severance tax to increase education spending, but…

Media

Read More: Audio: The Real Danger of a Severance Tax

Public Union Democracy

Pension Reform to Protect my Kids

  • August 19, 2015

Legislative leaders have rightly rejected a so-called pension reform “compromise,” a plan that fails to address the problems in our pension system and continues to put our kids and grandkids on…

Media

Read More: Pension Reform to Protect my Kids

Education

Wolf to Chester Families: “There is No Escape”

  • James Paul
  • August 19, 2015

Tom Wolf’s record on public education is well documented. The governor is hostile to schools of choice, cozy to union interests, and wedded to…

Media

Read More: Wolf to Chester Families: “There is No Escape”

Regulation

Wolf’s ‘Compromise’ Rings Hollow

  • August 18, 2015

Wolf’s ‘Compromise’ Rings Hollow Who’s Really Being ‘Disingenuous’ During Budget Talks? As budget negotiations continue, Gov. Wolf recently called Republicans “disingenuous” for criticizing his pension “compromise.” But…

Press Release

Read More: Wolf’s ‘Compromise’ Rings Hollow

Union Leader Still Flouting the Law

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 17, 2015

Yesterday’s Post-Gazette featured a story highlighting the fact that Wendell Young still isn’t registered to lobby, and UFCW 1776 is underreporting their expenses: Mr. Young isn’t registered as…

Media

Read More: Union Leader Still Flouting the Law

Regulation

Gov. Wolf’s So-Called Compromise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 17, 2015

Gov. Wolf proposed a new “compromise” on pensions and the budget last week, according to news reports. Here is what that compromise includes: A defined contribution plan for new…

Media

Read More: Gov. Wolf’s So-Called Compromise

Education

Pension Reform to Protect my Kids

  • August 17, 2015

I chose teaching because I enjoy interacting with students and helping them learn.  My science classes show students that certain actions yield predictable results.  With this in mind, I am…

Media

Read More: Pension Reform to Protect my Kids

Make Dave’s Voice Heard in Harrisburg

  • August 16, 2015

Dave Smith, a Phoenixville resident, has muscular dystrophy, which has left him wheelchair-bound and in need of 24-hour care. Don Lambrecht has been Dave’s homecare provider…

Commentary

Read More: Make Dave’s Voice Heard in Harrisburg

Government Accountability

New Contract, Still no Transparency

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 14, 2015

The newest state contract with AFSCME—the union representing more than 30,000 state workers—was signed earlier this week. The contract was agreed to in April, then ratified by…

Media

Read More: New Contract, Still no Transparency

4.6 Billion Is the Loneliest Number

  • Gina Diorio
  • August 12, 2015

Gov. Tom Wolf and the state legislature have agreed on legislation 39 times this year, the Pittsburgh Tribune notes. But when it came time to vote on Wolf’s $4.6…

Media

Read More: 4.6 Billion Is the Loneliest Number

State Budget

Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Blindspot

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • August 12, 2015

CF’s Nate Benefield joins Dom Giordano on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT to discuss the budget impasse and Gov. Wolf’s misleading claims. During their conversation, Nate shed light on Gov.

Media

Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Blindspot