Headshot

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.

Education

Op-Ed: Pennsylvania’s Catholic Schools Face Uncertainty in the Pandemic Era

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • October 22, 2020

In a shutdown-induced economic downturn, however, many can’t afford private school tuition, and the donations that kept Catholic schools afloat are dropping off. About 150 Catholic schools nationwide have closed permanently…

Commentary

Read More: Op-Ed: Pennsylvania’s Catholic Schools Face Uncertainty in the Pandemic Era

And Then What? Reforms Beyond the Current Budget

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • October 22, 2020

In any case, the budget will get balanced. For Pennsylvanians, the real question is: “And then what?” Pennsylvania’s budget problems preceded the virus shutdown and will continue long after it without real reform. Listed below are areas where lawmakers…

Backgrounder

Read More: And Then What? Reforms Beyond the Current Budget

Nurse Practitioners Are the Heroes Our Healthcare Needs

  • Tirzah Duren
  • October 16, 2020

Through HB 100, a pilot program would duplicate this year’s rule suspension within the limits of location- and population-based Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA), a federal designation of provider shortages.

Commentary

Read More: Nurse Practitioners Are the Heroes Our Healthcare Needs

Education

Scholarships would help Erie students during pandemic

  • October 7, 2020

It’s time to form the same public-private partnerships in education. Fortunately, an innovative proposal in Pennsylvania’s General Assembly would enable students to get the help they need.

Commentary

Read More: Scholarships would help Erie students during pandemic

More from the Senate Education Committee Hearing

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 6, 2020

When schools closed last spring—and with many still not fully open—parents across Pennsylvania have seen their children lose ground while having to pick up the additional costs of at-home education.

Commentary

Read More: More from the Senate Education Committee Hearing

Health Care

How to Vote in PA Q&A

  • Stefanie Mason
  • October 6, 2020

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. In Pennsylvania, voters are navigating how to cast their ballots during this pandemic era. …

Fact Sheet

Read More: How to Vote in PA Q&A

Public Union Democracy

Protecting the Rights of Pennsylvania Public Employees

  • October 3, 2020

Key Points Pennsylvania state law grants unions exclusive bargaining rights in government workplaces, makes it difficult for workers to leave their union, and allows taxpayer collection of union political money.Through…

Backgrounder

Read More: Protecting the Rights of Pennsylvania Public Employees

Education Stimulus Bill Subject of Senate Hearing

  • Colleen Hroncich, Michael Torres
  • October 2, 2020

Oct. 5, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, the Senate Education Committee will hold a hearing on a bill that would make a $1,000 per-student stimulus available to eligible families to help…

Press Release

Read More: Education Stimulus Bill Subject of Senate Hearing

How to Balance the Budget: Revenue Options

  • Andrew Abramczyk
  • October 2, 2020

Pennsylvania’s partial-year budget to fund the government through November relied on federal emergency aid to patch a prospective deficit. The state cannot count on such extra resources in the future.

Backgrounder

Read More: How to Balance the Budget: Revenue Options

State Halts Unemployment Payments Due to Mass Fraud

  • September 28, 2020

Pennsylvania delayed Pandemic Unemployment Assistance payments after a 300% increase in applications. Over 10,000 inmates were illegally submitting unemployment applications from behind bars.  Once again, the multimillion-dollar modernization project for…

Media

Read More: State Halts Unemployment Payments Due to Mass Fraud

Op-Ed: Now is the time to rebuild Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2020

By passing these ambitious, though necessary, reforms to help Pennsylvania rebuild its economy, lawmakers can start bridging the gap between what the people need and what government is focused on.

Commentary

Read More: Op-Ed: Now is the time to rebuild Pennsylvania

Lawmakers can Help Students get Back on Track

  • September 25, 2020

Funded with a portion of Pennsylvania’s reserved federal CARES Act funding, the proposal would establish scholarship accounts that families can use for educational necessities, similar to EBT cards used for supplemental…

Commentary

Read More: Lawmakers can Help Students get Back on Track

Health Care

Preserving Medicaid Before It’s Too Late

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • September 24, 2020

Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program is a national leader in all the wrong ways. Sub-standard access to care and soaring enrollment, costs, and fraud crowd out services for people with intellectual disabilities and low-income…

Backgrounder

Read More: Preserving Medicaid Before It’s Too Late

Education

Global Education Report Confirms Pa. Parents’ Experiences

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • September 22, 2020

COVID-related disruptions in education could mean a $14 trillion hit to the U.S. economy in the long term. Helping kids get the individualized help they need—through Back on Track scholarship accounts—could…

Commentary

Read More: Global Education Report Confirms Pa. Parents’ Experiences