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.
Op-Ed: The Localist Legislator — Last Hope Of The Middle Class?
With political courage and the support of the grassroots, state legislators can still do the hard work of governing.
Commentary
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Op-Ed: Restore Accountability in Harrisburg by Voting “Yes” on May 18
The Legislature, an elected body, has passed a constitutional amendment and submitted it to the people for ratification, as our constitution allows. It doesn’t get more democratic than that. Either…
Commentary
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5 Reasons Why the Emergency Powers Amendments Are Needed
May 4, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, members of the Wolf administration held press conferences addressing the emergency powers constitutional amendments on the May primary ballot and Gov. Wolf announced…
Press Release
Read More: 5 Reasons Why the Emergency Powers Amendments Are NeededState Budget
Clear the Red Tape to Rebuild a Stronger Pennsylvania
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Wolf repealed regulations to allow our healthcare sector to respond to the evolving crisis. Nonmedical regulatory restrictions—such as permitting cocktails to-go—were also…
Fact Sheet
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Op-Ed: School Closures Highlight The Need For Parental Choice
More affluent families have always had options — they can afford private schools or tutors as needed. Indeed, nothing illustrates the need for equity through school choice options more than…
Commentary
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Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Governor’s Abuse of Emergency Powers Must End
Keystone State citizens will have a chance to vote on ballot initiatives that would restrain Governor Wolf’s executive authority.
Commentary
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PA’s Economic Recovery Falling Behind
April 19, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa. — Key economic indicators show that Pennsylvania is falling behind in its effort to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. While our unemployment rate remains unacceptably high…
Press Release
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7 Signs Pa.’s Pandemic Recovery Is Falling Behind
Pennsylvania business closures continue to be among the worst in the nation. …
Fact Sheet
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Op-Ed: All or Nothing at All
Russell Shorto explores his family roots, the small-town mafia, and a unique period in postwar America.
Commentary
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Op-Ed: Fight Against PA Guv’s Powers Reflects Bipartisan Trend
The Pennsylvania General Assembly’s efforts to restrict Wolf’s emergency declaration – renewed four times – has reached its endgame in the form of two constitutional amendments in a statewide voter…
Commentary
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The Truth About Education Spending in Pennsylvania
Ben Franklin once said, “in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” If he lived in Pennsylvania today, he might have an addition to his list: claims of…
Backgrounder
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Op-Ed: How cyber charter schools create new paths for teachers and students
Robert Pratt is a sixth-grade science teacher at Agora Cyber Charter School. He explains why cyber charters have shown their value to students and teachers alike over the last year.
Commentary
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Op-Ed: Society of Woke
In Greater Philadelphia, Quaker schools betray their historical values.
Commentary
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Three Ways Pennsylvania Should Spend American Rescue Plan Funds
How should the commonwealth use this massive surplus of federal dollars? The temptation might be to simply pay off our budget deficit. The IFO projects that over the next five…
Fact Sheet
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A Brief History of Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike Proposals
Since taking office seven years ago, Governor Wolf has proposed or supported 14 tax hikes on working families.
Fact Sheet
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Op-Ed: How to Ease COVID-Era Education Battles: Fund Students
Children pay a high price for shutdowns. Supporting kids, not school systems, can help.
Commentary
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Stage-Four Cancer Patient Blocked from Care by Gov. Wolf: April’s Story
In the following video, April shares her story of confronting bad government policy—and the governor who caused it—while fighting to save her life. Despite her illness, April is speaking out…
Commentary
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Op-Ed: Personalized Care Act Empowers Individuals Instead of Bureaucrats
The Personalized Care Act won’t solve every problem we face when it comes to health care access. But it would go a long way toward putting individuals in the driver’s…
Commentary
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Op-Ed: John Heinz’s Legacy — and Pennsylvania’s Political Future
Thirty years ago, Republican Sen. John Heinz – then Pennsylvania’s most popular public figure – died in a midair collision over suburban Philadelphia’s Lower Merion Township. The April 4, 1991,…
Commentary
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Op-Ed: Voters can limit the power of the governor on May 18
Pennsylvanians can’t allow Wolf to wield such powers over our communities without working alongside the Legislature.
Commentary
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Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Lawmakers Aim to Keep Tom Wolf at Bay
Two ballot measures would limit the governor’s power to extend emergency declarations indefinitely.
Commentary
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