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

Education Funding Principles

  • Marc LeBlond
  • October 4, 2018

With mid-term elections nearing, both candidates for governor are wrestling with how to create a better education system, including a more equitable funding system. Here are five principles any education…

Media

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Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s Tax Climate Remains a Burden

  • October 3, 2018

The commonwealth’s business tax climate is chilling. A report from the Tax Foundation ranks Pennsylvania on a variety of key taxes, putting the state at 34th overall. On corporate income taxes,…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Tax Climate Remains a Burden

Public Union Democracy

Who Benefits from Union Political Spending?

  • Jessica Barnett
  • October 3, 2018

From teachers’ strikes to the significant U.S. Supreme Court case Janus v. AFSCME, government unions catapulted into the national spotlight this year. Yet union direct political engagement has remained strong for…

Media

Read More: Who Benefits from Union Political Spending?

Public Union Democracy

Lawmakers Must Prioritize Pro-Worker Legislation

  • Jessica Barnett
  • October 2, 2018

With a few session days left, lawmakers must prioritize legislation to align state law with federal law and tell workers their rights. HB 2571 enforces the U.S. Supreme Court decision…

Media

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Public Union Democracy

Enforcing Janus

  • Jessica Barnett
  • October 1, 2018

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME is a landmark decision for public sector workers—yet is not self-enforcing. It's time for Pennsylvania lawmakers to defend public sector employees' new-found rights…

Media

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Education

Back-to-School Disappointment for Thousands

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • October 1, 2018

Thousands of kids across Pennsylvania are finishing up their first month of school. For many of them, the beginning of the school year is an exciting chance to catch up with…

Media

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Safe and Smart: Tearing Down Obstacles to Work

  • September 27, 2018

What does Pennsylvania gain from putting up more barriers to work for people getting out of prison? Making the comeback from a criminal conviction to rejoining the community is hard…

Media

Read More: Safe and Smart: Tearing Down Obstacles to Work

Education

Opportunity Denied: To Meet Demand, Tax Credit Scholarship Caps Must Expand

  • Marc LeBlond
  • September 27, 2018

The 2018-19 state budget included a $25 million expansion of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. This will allow up to 15,000 additional students to receive scholarships. While helpful, 52,857…

Memo

Read More: Opportunity Denied: To Meet Demand, Tax Credit Scholarship Caps Must Expand

Public Union Democracy

Lawmakers and Union Leaders Attack Election Privacy

  • September 25, 2018

Today, Rep. Maureen Madden and Rep. Thomas Mehaffie introduced anti-worker legislation that would strip government workers of privacy rights in workplace elections and give union leaders workers’ personal information. HB…

Press Release

Read More: Lawmakers and Union Leaders Attack Election Privacy

Public Union Democracy

Legislation Moves to Enforce Workers’ Rights

  • Jessica Barnett
  • September 24, 2018

In the first full session day after the landmark Janus v. AFSCME U.S. Supreme Court decision, the state House Labor Committee passed legislation to protect the rights of public sector…

Media

Read More: Legislation Moves to Enforce Workers’ Rights

Public Union Democracy

House Committee Advances Bills Giving Government Workers a Bigger Voice

  • September 24, 2018

Today, the Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee passed several crucial bills supporting government workers’ constitutional rights. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME that…

Press Release

Read More: House Committee Advances Bills Giving Government Workers a Bigger Voice