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.

Education

Just the Facts: Education Spending

  • James Paul
  • May 29, 2015

Do we spend enough money on education? How much do we need to increase funding to improve results? How does Pennsylvania compare to the rest of the nation? These questions…

Poll

Read More: Just the Facts: Education Spending

State Budget

PA Budget Live Chat

  • May 29, 2015

Friday at noon we’ll be hosting a live chat on the Pennsylvania state budget. Topics on this page Pennsylvania…

Media

Read More: PA Budget Live Chat

Regulation

Audio: The ‘Same Old’ Pension System Isn’t Good Enough

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • May 28, 2015

During his budget address, Gov. Wolf stated, “It’s not good enough to just say no and continue with the same old same old.”  Why, then, does he continue to sidestep…

Media

Read More: Audio: The ‘Same Old’ Pension System Isn’t Good Enough

Teacher Appreciation Week Survey Winner

  • Brittney Parker
  • May 27, 2015

This year during Teacher Appreciation Week, Free to Teach hosted a survey to learn more about Pennsylvania’s teachers – straight from the source! Every participating educator was entered into a…

Media

Read More: Teacher Appreciation Week Survey Winner

Government Accountability

Getting the Best Deal from Government

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • May 27, 2015

If you’ve ever spent hundreds on a smartphone or thousands on a new car, you know what it’s like to hunt for the best deal. Yet when paying for state…

Commentary

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State Budget

Welfare, not Education, is Wolf’s Biggest Budget Buster

  • May 27, 2015

Commonwealth Foundation Contact: John Bouder | 717-671-1901 Welfare, not Education, is Wolf’sBiggest Budget Buster Study: Slowing Welfare Spending Growth Will Ease Budget Pressure May 27, 2015, HARRISBURG,…

Press Release

Read More: Welfare, not Education, is Wolf’s Biggest Budget Buster

Health Care

Out of Control

  • May 27, 2015

Governor Wolf is facing a budget situation more serious than any of his predecessors. His proposal includes an additional $691 million in the General Fund for DHS, bringing the department’s…

Report

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Government Accountability

Union Contract Agreements Bolster Case for Collective Bargaining Transparency

  • May 20, 2015

The Wolf Administration finalized contracts with two government unions yesterday, perfectly encapsulating the failings of the current collective bargaining process. In a terse press release, the Wolf Administration announced…

Media

Read More: Union Contract Agreements Bolster Case for Collective Bargaining Transparency

Education

Audio: House Expands State Scholarship Programs

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • May 20, 2015

Last week, Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives approved a significant expansion of two state scholarship programs, the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit…

Media

Read More: Audio: House Expands State Scholarship Programs

Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Stealth Unionization

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • May 19, 2015

Gov. Wolf’s recent executive order has been unveiled as an illegal attempt to unionize home healthcare workers–but the governor is claiming his order does not pave the way…

Media

Read More: Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Stealth Unionization

Education

Education Spending & Academic Achievement

  • James Paul
  • May 19, 2015

Increased education spending has not led to improved academic performance. This is reflected in SAT scores and NAEP results, as well numerous studies at the state, national, and international level.

Fact Sheet

Read More: Education Spending & Academic Achievement

Regulation

Audio: Fixing the State’s Broken Pension System

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • May 18, 2015

Public pensions have created one of the worst financial crises in Pennsylvania’s history—a monstrous, $50 billion debt that Gov. Wolf can no longer ignore. To prevent the crisis from…

Media

Read More: Audio: Fixing the State’s Broken Pension System