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.
Payoff to Big Labor
Rep. John Boehner on the union-led efforts to pass legislation that eliminate secret-ballot elections to unionize. Boehner misses the point when he compares union leaders to Hugo Chavez and…
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House Reform Group Issues Recommendations
Tracie Mauriello reports in the Post-Gazette on the reforms recommended by the PA House Reform Commission. Of course, since any recommendation had to be supported by 3/4ths of both…
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Army of Accountants?
When Governor Rendell proposed a new tax on oil profits, he claimed the cost “would not be passed on to consumers,” and that the Attorney General would have the power…
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Jackpot for Gambling Staff
WGAL’s Ben Simmoneau is reporting that Gaming Control Board Staff make hefty salaries, higher than most make in other state jobs. The Gaming Board tries to justify its higher…
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School Spending Data
The NCES released a report today titled An Historical Overview of Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education, by State: Fiscal Years 1990–2002. The full report is…
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Taking Oil Profits
If Governor Rendell is looking for another way to take more of oil companies’ profits, maybe he should look to Hugo Chavez, who announced the Venezuelan government would be…
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Show on the Road
Robert Poole of the Reason Foundation in today’s Wall Street Journal on the potential of public-private toll roads to revilatize our highway system. Topics on this page…
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Welfare state growing
Associated Press story on the growth of Welfare rolls. While TANF cash grants have declined nationally under welfare reform, Medicaid and other programs have grown. Today, one in six…
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RomneyCare on Life Support
The Massachusetts healthcare mandates – dubbed RomneyCare after former Governor Mitt Romney – was supposed to ensure universal health insurance for all, save money on “uncompensated care,” and keep the…
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Private vs. Gov’t Response to Crisis
The News of Delaware County editorial poses an interesting question: “Would corporate America have handled last week’s Interstate 78 disaster any worse or better than Pennsylvania government officials?”…
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No reform of incumbent protection ads
Article on the Reform Panel’s debate on taxpayer-funded “Public Service Ads” (a.k.a. incumbent protection plans), from Capitolwire.com (subscription): Even after a former House majority leader blasted taxpayer-paid TV…
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Insurance mandates aren’t the answer
Greg Scandlen in Health Care News writes that health insurance mandates won’t solve the problem of uninsured. I also pointed out in that article that part of…
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Non-Union Jobs
Steve Jobs takes on the teachers unions, from WSJ.com.
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The Philadelphia Story
Paul Peterson in today’s Wall Street Journal on the success of privately-managed public schools in Philadelphia. Topics on this page PhiladelphiaThe Wall Street Journal…
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Bonuses bump pensions
Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times reporter Alison Hawkes reveals that the bonus to legislative staffers has an impact on pension payouts! As Tim Potts is quoted as saying…
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Size of staff salaries surprise, but disclosing them is the important thing
Morning Call editorial on the legislative staff salaries… The question isn’t so much whether these staffers earn their pay as itis who decides, and what the decisions…
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Liquor system ripe for privatizing
Patriot News Editorial calls for privatizing of state liquor stores: “In proposing the turnpike lease, the governor has called the 537-mile highway an invaluable asset whose full value…
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Higher Taxes Wont Cure Cancer
Governor Ed Rendell has, on occasion, joked that some state lawmakers would oppose any tax increase, “even if we could cure cancer tomorrow.” Unfortunately, Governor Rendell adopts the opposite view…
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CEO Rankings of States
Chief Executive Magazine released its survey of CEOs, which ranks the 50 states (and DC) in terms of business friendliness. Pennsylvania ranks a dreary 37th (down ten spots from…
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Vince & Anchorwomen
Another reason to privatize the turnpike: to derail Vince Fumo’s efforts to use the Turnpike Commission to hook up with attractive Philadelphia news anchorwomen. From the Philadelphia Daily News:…
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Some staffers earning fatter salaries than lawmakers : The Morning Call Online
Morning Call article on the pay of PA House Staffers. Get the list of highest paid staffers from the Morning Call here. Topics on this page…
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