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.
State Budget
Op-Ed: Biden’s spending binge makes Americans poorer, just before the holidays
Biden and his allies in Congress need to stop this destructive spending now.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Biden’s spending binge makes Americans poorer, just before the holidaysState Budget
Op-Ed: How the Taxpayer Protection Act would help Pennsylvania
It’s time for Pennsylvania lawmakers to return to fiscally responsible governance. Passing the Taxpayer Protection Act is the perfect place to start.
Commentary
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Jennifer Stefano discussing supply chain issues on Newsmax
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Media
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Op-Ed: East Coast’s Remaining Refineries’ Daunting Domestic Threat
Originally published at Real Clear Energy The modernization of the Trainer Refinery south of Philadelphia is initially obscured by aged brick buildings and hulking equipment. With closer examination, however,…
Media
Read More: Op-Ed: East Coast’s Remaining Refineries’ Daunting Domestic ThreatEnergy
Op-Ed: We can keep Pennsylvania beautiful without making it poor
The secret is Pennsylvania’s abundant natural gas deposit, the second largest in the world, which produces power with drastically less pollution and just half the carbon emissions of coal.
Commentary
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Jennifer Stefano discusses continuing inflation on Newsmax
Commonwealth Foundation's Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano discusses inflation and the stock market on Newsmax's Wake Up America. Topics on this page InflationNewsmax…
Media
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Op-Ed: Open Records Expose How Wolf Admin. Coerced Local Health Dept. Mask Mandates
Originally published in the Delaware Valley Journal Just as the Commonwealth Court struck down Gov. Tom Wolf’s mask mandate for public school students in a 4-1 decision Wednesday, Bucks…
Media
Read More: Op-Ed: Open Records Expose How Wolf Admin. Coerced Local Health Dept. Mask Mandates
Statement: Democrats Flee Labor Hearing to Support Public Sector Union Officials
November 15, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Democratic members of the House Labor and Industry Committee walked out of a public hearing covering a collection of government labor reform bills.
Press Release
Read More: Statement: Democrats Flee Labor Hearing to Support Public Sector Union OfficialsEducation
Jennifer Stefano discussing Democrats’ expensive childcare plans on Fox Business
Commonwealth Foundation's Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano discusses the Democrats' wrong-headed and pricey childcare policies on Fox Business. Topics on this page Child careEconomic…
Media
Read More: Jennifer Stefano discussing Democrats’ expensive childcare plans on Fox BusinessTaxes & Economy
Top Unemployment Compensation Reforms for Pennsylvania
Overview Pennsylvania should reform its unemployment compensation system to pay down state debt, incentivize hiring, increase labor participation, and minimize fraudulent claims. Reforms should protect unemployment compensation for the individuals…
Fact Sheet
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Op-Ed: To Protect Your Nonprofit’s Growth, Protect Your Donors’ Privacy
Reporters have the right to keep their sources private. Lawyers don’t have to release their client lists. And non-political charities do not have to share the identities of their donors,…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: To Protect Your Nonprofit’s Growth, Protect Your Donors’ Privacy
Taxpayer Resources Spent on Lobbying
Topics on this page GovernmentGovernment spendingPolitical corruptionPublic administrationTaxpayer…
Poll
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Commonwealth Foundation Promotes Jennifer Stefano to Executive V.P.
November 1, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa. – Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s free-market think tank, today announces that Jennifer Stefano has been promoted to the position of Executive Vice President. Her appointment took…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Promotes Jennifer Stefano to Executive V.P.Education
Op-Ed: Taxpayers Take School Board to Court for Trying to Silence Parents’ Criticism
The education bill is moving forward in Pennsylvania as a recent poll from Real Clear Opinion Research found that a strong majority of independents, Democrats, and Republicans say they support…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Taxpayers Take School Board to Court for Trying to Silence Parents’ CriticismRegulation
Op-Ed: Pennsylvanians can’t afford Biden’s multi-trillion tax-and-spend plan
With the legislative sausage-making now underway, it’s likely Pennsylvanians would find the menu of specific tax hikes distasteful.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Pennsylvanians can’t afford Biden’s multi-trillion tax-and-spend plan
Fox Business: CF’s Jennifer Stefano joins Making Money on Fox Business to discuss “Striketober”
Topics on this page Fox BusinessStrike actionUniversity of California, Berkeley…
Media
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Newsmax: CF’s Jennifer Stefano discusses Joe Biden’s town hall performance on Wake Up America
Part 1 Part 2 Topics on this page Joe BidenNewsmaxPolitical Commentary…
Media
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Op-Ed: Michigan’s governor should follow Pennsylvania’s on school choice expansions
If Wolf, who has demonstrated allegiance to teacher unions, can sign massive school choice expansions in Pennsylvania, other governors including Whitmer should as well. Kids need it. Parents want it.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Michigan’s governor should follow Pennsylvania’s on school choice expansions
Op-Ed: Three Pa. bills to give parents more control over their kids’ education
As a devoted James Bond fan, I rushed to see No Time to Die. I don’t usually see much of my own life in Bond’s — but this time, I…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Three Pa. bills to give parents more control over their kids’ education
Fox Business: CF’s Jennifer Stefano joins Charles Payne to discuss President Biden’s expensive agenda.
Topics on this page Fox BusinessJoe Biden…
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Op-Ed: Covid didn’t “break” parents
Few things are more sickening than the realization that something you disagree with will happen to your child and there is nothing you can do about it.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Covid didn’t “break” parents