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.
Pennsylvania’s Windfall Profits Tax?
The Tax Foundation’s blog on Rendell’s proposed windfall profits tax. Topics on this page PennsylvaniaTax Foundation…
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Taxing Teachers
When Governor Rendell intoduced his proposed “Oil Company Gross Profits Tax”, he bashed Exxon-Mobil and their profits. The Governor apparently forgot that Exxon’s profits are owned by people, including being…
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State can’t fix health insurance problems it created
A small businessman says “Thanks, but No Thanks!” to Gov. Rendell’s healthcare proposal that is suppose to HELP small businesses. Read John Brinson’s commentary in the Morning Call.
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Newly Retired Lawmakers Cash In on Pensions
The Associated Press reports on the pension payouts of newly retired lawmakers. ABC27 reports on the lucrative “public servant” benefits our lawmakers have provided themselves.
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Do Markets Work in Healthcare?
From Dr. John Goodman of the National Center for Policy Analysis… Perhaps you have heard that health markets work reasonably well whenpatients pay with their own money. LAZIK surgery…
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Pennsylvania Turnpike corruption alleged in federal indictment of senator, wife of Pike chairman
Tollroads News looks at federally indicted state Senator Vince Fumo’s connection to the PA Turnpike. Topics on this page Pennsylvania TurnpikeVince Fumo…
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Record Taxes
Much has been made about Exxon’s “record profits”, but no media focused on their “record taxes“–Exxon paid three times in taxes what they earned in profits. Why is this…
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Rendell To Seek Increase in Sales Tax
ABC 27 previews the Governor’s budget proposals.
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Fiscal Revelation
Wall Street Journal crunches numbers in the federal budget and national debt.
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What Happened to Yesterday’s Hometown Heroes?
Each morning my local county newspaper shows up late. Speaking with the delivery man and calling the office hasn’t changed things. So, rather than canceling the 20,089 daily circulation paper…
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Bonus recipients gave heavily to campaigns
More gasoline on the legislative bonuses fire, from Public Radio Capitol News.
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A heaping helping of handouts
Post-Gazette piece on a whole host of corporate welfare grants. Topics on this page Pittsburgh Post-Gazette…
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Significant Tax Increase for Pennsylvania
The Tax Foundation assesses Governor Rendell’s plans to raise a host of taxes in Pennylvania. Topics on this page Ed Rendell…
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State judge pay system worse than legislative bonuses.
From Capitolwire.com (subscription): Ditzen also wrote: “For all the controversy surrounding Act 44, I have not heard anyone argue that the salary linkage for state judges to the federal…
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Taxpayers could bear cost of pension plans’ ‘noncrisis’
Rick Dreyfuss’s latest commentary in Sunday’s Patriot-News. Topics on this page The Patriot-News…
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Saying No To Teacher Strikes
The Evening Bulletin covers efforts to stop teacher strikes in PA, focusing on the efforts of Simon Campbell at Stop Teacher Strikes, Inc. Topics on this page…
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The Case Against Smoking Bans
Thomas A Lambert in Regulation Magazine on the Case Against Smoking Bans in “public places.”…
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Rendell pushes health plan
Lancaster Intelligencer Journal article on RendellCare. After quoting my commentary on Rendell’s misdiagnosis of the problem, the article then quotes Rendell saying: “‘It’s important for the Legislature to…
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Rendell’s Energy Plan
From Capitolwire.com: By Christopher LilienthalStaff ReporterCapitolwire HARRISBURG (Feb. 1) – Gov. Ed Rendell outlined an energy independence strategy Thursday that calls for the creation of an $850…
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More on Legislative Bonuses
The Patriot News adds up the total legislative bonuses to $3.6 million over the last 2 years ($1.8 million from the Democratic caucus in 2006). Meanwhile, Bob Jubelirer defends…
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Time for another Rendell tax proposal
From the bad idea factory in Harrisburg comes another proposal for a tax increase to fund another misguided government program. This time, Governor Rendell proposes increasing electricity taxes by $850…
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