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.
Government Accountability
An end to cronyism in state government?
The Pennsylvania House GOP has unveiled several proposals to end “pay to play” – including cracking down on the ability of the administration to award of no-bid contracts. In…
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CF Budget Forum on PCN
If you missed todays lunch discussion with Sens. Jake Corman and Jay Costa on the Pennsylvania budget, it is set to air tomorrow at 1 pm on PCN, with…
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CF Budget Forum on PCN
If you missed todays lunch discussion with Sens. Jake Corman and Jay Costa on the Pennsylvania budget, it is set to air tomorrow at 1 pm on PCN, with…
Media
Read More: CF Budget Forum on PCNTaxes & Economy
Tax and Spend Polices are Recipe for Disaster
My letter to the editor in the Post-Gazette: The state’s tax-and-spend policies are a recipe for disasterSharon Ward’s Jan. 28 Perspectives piece (“Keep…
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Read More: Tax and Spend Polices are Recipe for DisasterTaxes & Economy
The need to “do something”
Matt Lewis has an entertaining post on the need to “do something” with regard to the federal “stimulus” – comparing it to a 19th century doctor pressed to “do…
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Read More: The need to “do something”Taxes & Economy
More waste, no-bid contracts, in PA budget
Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner has a draft of an audit blasting the Rendell adminstration for its technology contracts, specifically with Deloitte, the Patriot News Reports.
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Read More: More waste, no-bid contracts, in PA budgetTaxes & Economy
Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest
$4,000 in cash prizes for citizens to help raise awareness of PA’s painful tax burden HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today announced its Please, No More Taxes!…
Press Release
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For-Profit Philadelphia Schools Show Gains
A new study by Paul Peterson and Matthew Chingos finds that the Philadelphia public schools contracted out to for-profit operators showed significant gains in student achievement. Specifically, the…
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Gov. Rendell, you’re wrong too!
I posted a blog over at Capital Domes, “Mr. Specter, You’re Wrong!”, on the argument being put forth by Pres. Obama and our senior state senator that “nearly all…
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Read More: Gov. Rendell, you’re wrong too!Taxes & Economy
How well has more spending worked up until now?
The Morning Call’s John Micek makes a joke on his blog about the effectiveness of tax cuts in stimulating the economy: Hardcore GOPers, asked for their alternative,…
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Read More: How well has more spending worked up until now?Taxes & Economy
With All Due Respect, Mr. Specter
“The country cannot afford not to take action,” Senator Arlen Specter writes in the Washington Post justifying support for the “stimulus” package, mimicking the statement by President Obama “There…
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Read More: With All Due Respect, Mr. SpecterGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania Legislature’s growing girth
Robert Swift has a good article on the “professionalization” of the Pennsylvania legislature, including breaking down the cost of a legislator: At $78,314, the annual salary…
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How Government Created the Financial Crisis
John Taylor in the Wall Street Journal on how Government created the financial crisis: Monetary excesses were the main cause of the boom. The Fed held its…
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Read More: How Government Created the Financial CrisisEducation
The Great College Hoax
Forbes has an excellent article on the merits of college – and taxpayer subsidies of higher ed – even as Governor Rendell proposes legalized video poker to put…
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Read More: The Great College HoaxTaxes & Economy
Libertarian ideas to stimulate economy
Jeffrey A. Miron has a list of libertarian proposals to stimulate the economy (I would expect most self-described “conservatives” would agree with 8 of the 9 proposals): Repeal the…
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Please No More Taxes Video Contest
Are you tired of paying high taxes? Enter the Commonwealth Foundation’s “Please No More Taxes” video contest and win up to $2,500! Go to PleaseNoMoreTaxes.org for contest rules.
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Read More: Please No More Taxes Video ContestTaxes & Economy
The GOP Has a Dumb Mortgage Idea
In the Wall Street Journal, Ed Glaeser rips the US Senate GOP’s plans to underwrite mortgages and offer an additional tax credit for home-buyers More criticism of this…
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Read More: The GOP Has a Dumb Mortgage IdeaTaxes & Economy
Commonwealth Foundation Launches Please, No More Taxes! Campaign
HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today announced the launch of the Please, No More Taxes! campaign, a public education effort aimed at the elimination of wasteful state spending and…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Launches Please, No More Taxes! CampaignEducation
Special Needs Scholarship Could Replace School for the Deaf
There has been a lot of public outcry against Governor Rendell’s proposal to close the Scranton School for the Deaf, as well as the Scotland School…
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Read More: Special Needs Scholarship Could Replace School for the DeafEducation
The School District Consolidation Myth
As part of his budget, Governor Rendell proposed creating a commission on consolidating PA school districts (and it turns out, he may intend to do so even if the legislature…
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Read More: The School District Consolidation MythEducation
Economists Against Governor Rendell
In his budget address, Governor Rendell cited “conservative” economists who support the stimulus package and his spending proposals, even though they don’t. Here is Rendell: Economists from…
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