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

Political Fairness Issue Goes Before Lawmakers

  • June 5, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Legal Loophole Exploits Taxpayers & Union Members for Politics Paycheck Protection Promises to Restore Fairness & Accountability June 5,…

Press Release

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Public Union Democracy

Capitol Rally an Outcry for Fairness: The Facts on Paycheck Protection

  • June 4, 2014

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Capitol Rally Reflects Public Outcry for Fairness Lawmakers to Hear Testimony on Paycheck Protection Tomorrow June 4, 2014, Harrisburg, Pa—Today,…

Press Release

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Education

Five Facts on Pennsylvania Public Schools

  • June 4, 2014

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently released its annual summary of public school finances for the 2012-13 school year. Here are some basic facts about school finances and spending,…

Fact Sheet

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Regulation

Archaic Laws and Eight-Foot Walls

  • June 4, 2014

Pennsylvania’s Prohibition-era liquor laws did nothing but provide headaches for two entrepreneurs, demonstrating yet again the absurdity of our state liquor code. Danya Henninger at the Philadelphia Inquirer…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Should Taxpayers Pay for Strippers?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 3, 2014

Should individuals be able to spend their welfare benefits on liquor, tobacco, gambling or strippers? Currently, they can. House Bill 907 would codify Department of Welfare electronic benefit card…

Media

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Union Quietly Admits to Using Teachers’ Dues for Politics

  • June 2, 2014

This post first appeared on Commonwealth Foundation’s PolicyBlog. Whenever we talk about how teacher and other government unions spend their members’ dues on politics, the most common reaction we…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Union Quietly Admits to Using Dues for Politics

  • Priya Brannick
  • June 2, 2014

Whenever we talk about how teacher and other government unions spend their members’ dues on politics, the most common reaction we hear is that simply isn’t true. Workers often hear…

Media

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Health Care

Will Modified Medicaid Expansion Bring Needed Reforms?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • May 30, 2014

While Pennsylvania waits to learn the fate of the Healthy PA waiver, Indiana is making headlines as the latest state to propose a modified expansion. The Healthy Indiana Plan…

Media

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Education

Pension Reform Benefits Teachers & Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 30, 2014

Standard & Poor’s recently issued a stern warning that they would lower Pennsylvania’s bond rating—making it more expensive for the state to borrow money—unless they “adopt meaningful pension reform.” This…

Commentary

Read More: Pension Reform Benefits Teachers & Taxpayers