Stephen Kelly
Senior Associate of Government Affairs
Stephen Kelly is a Senior Associate of Government Affairs at the Commonwealth Foundation.
Stephen is an Adams County native. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2022 with a BA in Political Science and a minor in Economics.
After graduating, Stephen returned home to Pennsylvania. Before joining the Commonwealth Foundation, he was a Polling Assistant for the 2022 Midterm Elections at Cygnal, a polling and survey research firm serving center-right and conservative campaigns, political action committees, and independent expenditures.
Outside of work and following politics, Stephen enjoys learning about history, playing rugby, and rooting for all the Philadelphia sports teams.
Education
More on Philadelphia School Trends
Philadelphia-based Research for Action (RFA) took issue with CF’s Policy Points on spending, enrollment, and staffing trends in the School District of Philadelphia. The…
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PLCB: Raising markup on liquor a “last resort”
Topics on this page Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board…
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Booze Lose: PLCB Proposes Increased Mark-up Price
Get ready to empty the piggy bank because soon you could be paying the government even more for your booze. At least, that’s the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s (PLCB) latest…
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Research group disputes Commonwealth Foundation’s findings on Phila. schools finances
Topics on this page Philadelphia…
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Teachers Call for More Freedom, Choices
Heather Lister and Joe Connolly are both Pennsylvania educators, and they couldn’t be more different. Heather is a 25-year-old library media specialist and a registered Democrat. Joe is a veteran…
Media
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For Teachers, Knowledge is Power
Like any other group of professionals, teachers are a diverse lot, holding vastly differing social, cultural, and political views. So why is it that they’re lumped together and forced to…
Commentary
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With Lawmakers In Recess and Elections On Horizon, Pennsylvania’s Pension Debate is Heating Up
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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Rep. Seth Grove: Technology problems cut both ways in state government (column)
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Don’t make teachers pay for union causes they don’t support: Priya Abraham
Topics on this page Priya Abraham…
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Throwing more money at Philadelphia’s schools isn’t the answer
Topics on this page Philadelphia…
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If I’m Trusted With Children, Trust Me to Make My Own Union Choices
Ask a teacher about their best memory and I guarantee they’ll get a little sappy. I love being in a profession where people are constantly trying to get better.
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Read More: If I’m Trusted With Children, Trust Me to Make My Own Union ChoicesPublic Union Democracy
New Poll: 81% in PA Believe Unionization Should be a Choice
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 New Poll: 81 Percent of Pennsylvanians Support Worker Freedom This is National Employee Freedom Week, Educating Union Employees…
Press Release
Read More: New Poll: 81% in PA Believe Unionization Should be a ChoiceRegulation
Study: Selective Carve-Outs Make Poor Tax Policy
Lawmakers across the country have promoted specific, targeted tax breaks that encourage businesses to invest in their state. According to a recent study, these incentive programs are…
Media
Read More: Study: Selective Carve-Outs Make Poor Tax PolicyGovernment Accountability
Agreed: Public Resources Should not be used for Politics
“Public resources are not supposed to be used for partisan political purposes.” So says Barry Kauffman of Common Cause PA in a Tribune Review article. What Mr. Kauffman…
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Seniority Reform is Pro-Child, not Anti-Teacher
It seems clear that there is widespread agreement—across party lines and ideological barriers—that we must address school seniority rules and tenure reform. Check out this stunning video from MSNBC’s Morning…
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Funding Advance Band-Aid Won’t Stop Philly Schools’ Bleeding
Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Short Term Funding Solution Ignores Structural Problems Philadelphia Schools Need Fundamental Reform to End Education Crisis With 80 percent of students failing to make…
Press Release
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Protecting Children Should Trump Politics
A harrowing study shows that sexual misconduct by teachers is becoming more prevalent in the commonwealth. Since January, there have been 24 reported cases of sexual abuse by Pennsylvania teachers.
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Audio: Will a Cigarette Tax Really Save Philly Schools?
Yesterday, radio talk show host Dom Giordano talked to CF’s Nathan Benefield about the proposed cigarette tax to fund Philadelphia schools. Dom asked why we care so much about whether…
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Read More: Audio: Will a Cigarette Tax Really Save Philly Schools?Education
A Note on Philadelphia School Spending
Last week, we released a summary of spending, enrollment and staffing trends in the Philadelphia School District over the past decade. After this release,…
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