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

Lawmakers Stand Up for Taxpayers

  • February 23, 2015

Earlier today, Senators Camera Bartolotta and Mike Folmer and Rep. Tim Krieger announced their intentions to usher in an era of fiscal responsibility with the Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA) and…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Committees Vote on Paycheck Protection, Liquor Privatization

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • February 23, 2015

Lawmakers took action in committees today on both liquor privatization and paycheck protection. Here’s what’s happened in Harrisburg: Liquor privatization: This morning, the House Liquor Control Committee advanced HB…

Media

Read More: Committees Vote on Paycheck Protection, Liquor Privatization

State Budget

Safeguard Family Finances with the Taxpayer Protection Act

  • February 23, 2015

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Safeguard Family Finances with the Taxpayer Protection Act Responsible Spending Boosts Job, Population, and Income Growth February 23, 2015,…

Press Release

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Education

New Charter School Proposals Offer Hope for Thousands in Phila.

  • February 18, 2015

Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 New Charter School Proposals Offer Hope for Thousands in Phila. Life-changing Educational Opportunities Should not be Denied Good morning, This afternoon, Philadelphia families…

Press Release

Read More: New Charter School Proposals Offer Hope for Thousands in Phila.

Education

Student Funding Reform

  • February 17, 2015

Pennsylvania ranks among the nation’s leaders in education spending per student. Although spending levels are high, the system for distributing state funding is outdated. Weighted student funding (WSF) is a…

Fact Sheet

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Public Union Democracy

Paycheck Protection is About Morality, not Cost

  • February 17, 2015

It is a principle of good government that electoral politics are not mixed with official government business. Yet state and local governments in Pennsylvania continue to collect political campaign funds…

Commentary

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Government Accountability

Audio: Stepping Towards a Balanced Budget

  • Jonathan Reginella
  • February 12, 2015

This year, Pennsylvania lawmakers have the formidable task of eliminating a projected $1.7 billion budget deficit. Bob Dick, a CF policy analyst, spoke with Gary Sutton about what can be…

Media

Read More: Audio: Stepping Towards a Balanced Budget

Regulation

Long Term Problems are Big Opportunities for Change

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • February 11, 2015

Pennsylvania added nearly two dozen new lawmakers in November, and there’s a new face in the Governor’s Mansion. Indeed, that face will look very new, as Tom Wolf is the…

Commentary

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Wolf Misleads on Need for More Taxes

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • February 11, 2015

Gov. Tom Wolf today proposed a new tax on natural gas, fulfilling one of his campaign promises. However, much of his rhetoric doesn’t match reality. Wolf’s proposal calls for a…

Media

Read More: Wolf Misleads on Need for More Taxes