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.

Regulation

Failing to Learn from Past Gambles

  • December 1, 2009

The Patriot New ran in an article on property tax “relief” the day after Thanksgiving, giving homeowners a reason not to be thankful. The governor’s dream to make…

Media

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Government Accountability

The Honorable Matthew J. Brouillette?

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • November 30, 2009

It’s official, I am now an elected official, having won a random drawing – that’s democracy in action – for Judge of Election in my precinct.  While I am unsure…

Media

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Education

Penn State to Launch Inquiry in “Climategate”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 30, 2009

Penn State University is going to “look into” the emails from and about university professor Michael Mann, which indicate, among other things,…

Media

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Education

Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • November 30, 2009

With Pittsburgh on the brink of bankruptcy thanks to its continual out-of-control spending, Mayor Ravenstahl and his allies on City Council have hatched a new scheme to collect more money…

Commentary

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Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Spent $4 Million in Taxpayer Funded Lobbying

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 30, 2009

The Tribune Review gives a strong exposé on why taxpayers continue to lose – Pennsylvania state and local governments spent $4 million to lobby the federal and state government…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Congress Working on “[Save Their Own] Jobs” Bill

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 30, 2009

With jobs losses continuing to mount, Congress is considering a third economic “stimulus” (pundits often ignore the Bush stimulus of 2008) in…

Media

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State Budget

Pennsylvania Lawmakers to End Calendar Givewaways

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 27, 2009

ABC 27 reports that both the Pennsylvania House and Senate will not be printing calendars to give away this year (which typically featured a “courtesy of Rep. Name”) sticker.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Legislating Prices for Legal Ads

  • November 25, 2009

What do you do when something costs too much?  You don’t buy it.  Or if you’re the state, you simply mandate a new lower price. The State House…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax?

  • November 24, 2009

Pennsylvania has a flat rate Personal Income Tax (PIT) of 3.07%, which is a fair and simple distribution of taxation.  Yet some people are imprudently calling for a state-wide graduated…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Why Public Sector Unionism Is a Bad Deal for Taxpayers

  • November 24, 2009

A recent report by the Cato Institute concluded “High rates of unionization in the public sector have led to very high labor costs in the form of generous collective…

Media

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Regulation

Pennsylvania Pensions and Taxes

  • November 23, 2009

Pennsylvania's statewide pension plans for public school employees, state workers, legislators, judges and other government employees - the Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employee Retirement System…

Fact Sheet

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Taxes & Economy

Penn State Professor Caught in Climatology Scandal

  • November 23, 2009

Britain’s Climate Research Unit verified hackers confiscated email correspondence between top climatologists, putting Penn State’s director of Earth System Science Center, Michael E. Mann, directly in the middle of…

Media

Read More: Penn State Professor Caught in Climatology Scandal

Public Union Democracy

Legal Plunder At Its Worst

  • November 23, 2009

Let’s see how many dirty political games you can fit into one case – from union thuggery to corporate welfare, to rent-seeking to holding taxpayers and employees hostage – the…

Media

Read More: Legal Plunder At Its Worst