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

State Senate Committee Advances Taxpayer Protection Act

  • April 21, 2015

Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Senate Committee Advances Taxpayer Protection Act Legislation Protects Pennsylvanians from Out-of-Control State Spending Good afternoon,…

Press Release

Read More: State Senate Committee Advances Taxpayer Protection Act

State Budget

The Unintended Consequences of Wolf’s Budget

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 21, 2015

If the proposed sales tax expansion contained in Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget proposal becomes law, Louise Bell's nursing home costs will jump by $3,000—essentially adding a 13th month to her…

Commentary

Read More: The Unintended Consequences of Wolf’s Budget

Public Union Democracy

This Unionization Scheme is About Money

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 20, 2015

I am angry. As my colleague Dawn pointed out last week, ballots were mailed to home health care workers asking them whether or not they want to be represented by the…

Media

Read More: This Unionization Scheme is About Money

Public Union Democracy

Gov. Wolf’s Stealth Unionization of Home Health Care Workers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 20, 2015

In 2015, Gov. Wolf issued an executive order paving the way for unionization of homecare workers in Pennsylvania. These workers provide in-home medical and personal care. Many of these workers are…

Memo

Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Stealth Unionization of Home Health Care Workers

Education

Video: Tax Credit Scholarships Give Options to Thousands

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • April 17, 2015

The Educational Improvement Tax Credit program (EITC) offers businesses the chance to be more involved in their communities by offering tax credits in exhange for sholarship funding. This program allows…

Media

Read More: Video: Tax Credit Scholarships Give Options to Thousands

Public Union Democracy

“This is Not a Union Ballot”

  • April 15, 2015

This is not a union ballot, according Jeffrey Sheridan, press secretary for Gov. Wolf. The ballot you see was mailed to a home health care worker. Gov. Wolf…

Media

Read More: “This is Not a Union Ballot”

Taxes & Economy

The Worst “Subsidy” Study You’ll Never Read

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • April 14, 2015

The radical environmentalist group and corporate welfare lobbyist PennFuture has updated an absurd study about the “subsidies” Pennsylvania taxpayers pay for fossil fuels. While we oppose subsidies for any industry, most…

Media

Read More: The Worst “Subsidy” Study You’ll Never Read

Public Union Democracy

Wolf’s Stealth Unionization is Happening Now

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 14, 2015

Two lawsuits filed in Commonwealth Court last week say Gov. Wolf’s February executive order is an illegal attempt to unionize thousands of Pennsylvania homecare workers. But…

Media

Read More: Wolf’s Stealth Unionization is Happening Now

State Budget

Pennsylvania’s Economy Ranks a Dismal 39th

  • April 10, 2015

Is placing 39 out of 50 in any competition acceptable? Most people would say no, which is why a new index published by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Economy Ranks a Dismal 39th