Thomas Cusmano
Regional Director, Strategic Partnerships
Thomas (Tom) Cusmano is Regional Director, Strategic Partnerships at the Commonwealth Foundation.
Prior to joining the Commonwealth Foundation in early 2022, Tom spent twelve years at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) and its student journalism subsidiary, the Collegiate Network (CN). Both ISI and CN educate, train, and mentor America’s most promising principled student leaders, scholars, and future journalists.
Tom has spent three decades facilitating development support for national, regional, and statewide charitable organizations. He says, “The greatest blessing of my professional life has been to assist an inspiring group of dedicated, patriotic, and generous Americans with their philanthropy. I now have the opportunity to return that inspiration for my home state of Pennsylvania through the worthy endeavors of the Commonwealth Foundation.”
Tom has been a Pennsylvania resident since 1994 and proudly proclaims another great blessing, living in Amish Country, where he, his wife, and family “found home.”
State Budget
Nate Benefield on The Dawn Stensland Show: Common Ground Poll Breakdown
The juxtaposition between the lack of support for Shapiro’s budget proposal (29%) and the massive support for his unfulfilled campaign promises—like Lifeline Scholarships (77%), lowering the business tax rate (81%),…
Media Hit
Read More: Nate Benefield on The Dawn Stensland Show: Common Ground Poll BreakdownPublic Union Democracy
Shapiro’s Project Labor Agreement Mandate
Summary Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) are pre-hire agreements between the government and a contractor that outline the terms and conditions for a certain project. Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote to state…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Shapiro’s Project Labor Agreement MandatePublic Union Democracy
Demand more from CT public sector union officials
Originally published at the Hartford Courant In Connecticut, getting a job in state government comes with strings attached. As soon as you’re hired, the state sends your contact information,…
Media Hit
Read More: Demand more from CT public sector union officialsEnergy
Shapiro’s energy proposals threaten affordable, reliable energy in Pa.
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review In his op-ed “My commonsense plan for a new era of energy leadership in Pa.” (April 2, TribLive), Gov. Josh Shapiro…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro’s energy proposals threaten affordable, reliable energy in Pa.Public Union Democracy
Gov’t Unions Took Over Michigan. Now They’re Eyeing PA
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania During the 2021–22 election cycle, an obstinately pro-government union majority took over Michigan’s state government after the four largest public employee unions …
Media Hit
Read More: Gov’t Unions Took Over Michigan. Now They’re Eyeing PAHealth Care
A Physician’s Misfortune Highlights What’s Wrong with Health Care
Originally published at RealClearHealth When Dr. Marion Mass got the distress call about her mother in the nursing home, she knew something was wrong. As a Pennsylvania-based pediatrician, Mass…
Media Hit
Read More: A Physician’s Misfortune Highlights What’s Wrong with Health CareEducation
Letter to the Editor – Educational Options
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer The fight over educational choice is frustratingly politicized. Both sides duke it out in the public square, while students remain trapped in crumbling…
Media Hit
Read More: Letter to the Editor – Educational OptionsEducation
Cutting cyber funding hurts Pennsylvania students
Originally published in The Mercury Gov. Josh Shapiro wants to cut funding to cyber charter schools. Other lawmakers, such as state Sen. Lindsey Williams, are seeking a moratorium on…
Media Hit
Read More: Cutting cyber funding hurts Pennsylvania studentsEducation
Lawmakers’ ‘Grow PA’ Proposal Offers Serious Solutions for Higher Education
Harrisburg, Pa., April 11, 2024 — Yesterday, Pennsylvania Sens. Scott Martin, Ryan Aument, David Argall, and Tracy Pennycuick and Reps. Jesse Topper and Rob Mercuri introduced “Grow PA,” a higher…
Press Release
Read More: Lawmakers’ ‘Grow PA’ Proposal Offers Serious Solutions for Higher EducationHealth Care
Pa. House’s Passage of HB 1512 Is a Victory for Patients
Harrisburg, Pa., April 10, 2024 — Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill (HB) 1512 by a vote of 197 to 3. The Commonwealth Foundation applauds the passage of the…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. House’s Passage of HB 1512 Is a Victory for PatientsPublic Union Democracy
Gov. Shapiro’s labor agreements will harm workers and taxpayers
Originally published at The Patriot-News Gov. Josh Shapiro often brags about his competitive spirit. However, his recent directive to “evaluate and implement” Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) into…
Media Hit
Read More: Gov. Shapiro’s labor agreements will harm workers and taxpayersTaxes & Economy
Commonwealth Foundation Survey Finds Inflation-Weary Voters Oppose Higher State Spending and Taxes
Harrisburg, Pa., April 9, 2024 — Inflation tops the list of Pennsylvania voter concerns in a new survey released today by the Commonwealth Foundation. The poll found taxpayers are weary of state…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Survey Finds Inflation-Weary Voters Oppose Higher State Spending and TaxesState Budget
Governor’s campaign slogans won’t fix Pa.
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Though elected in 2022, Gov. Josh Shapiro remains stuck in campaign mode, offering one empty platitude after another while avoiding the hard work…
Media Hit
Read More: Governor’s campaign slogans won’t fix Pa.Regulation
Regulatory Reforms Stalled in State House
Summary Gov. Josh Shapiro’s PAyback permit rebate program is a step forward. But alone, it is insufficient to fix Pennsylvania’s above-average regulatory burden. The governor says he wants to…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Regulatory Reforms Stalled in State HousePublic Union Democracy
What happened when a teacher spoke out?
In this episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report, host David Osborne interviews physical education teacher John Grande. Mr. Grande has been a teacher for 36 years. After expressing frustration…
Podcast
Read More: What happened when a teacher spoke out?Education
Season 2, Episode 2 Featuring Keisha Jordan, President and CEO at Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia
An advocate turned school choice advocate, Keisha Jordan is a woman on a mission. In this episode of School Choice Report, host David Hardy and Ms. Jordan discuss charter school…
Podcast
Read More: Season 2, Episode 2 Featuring Keisha Jordan, President and CEO at Children’s Scholarship Fund PhiladelphiaEnergy
André Béliveau: Pennsylvania Governor Flirts with Reckless ‘Green’ Initiatives
André Béliveau Senior Manager of Energy Policy at the Commonwealth Foundation & Columnist at the National Review joins Dawn to break down his latest on PA & Shapiro. …
Media Hit
Read More: André Béliveau: Pennsylvania Governor Flirts with Reckless ‘Green’ InitiativesEnergy
PACER & PRESS Analysis
Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro campaigned on a healthy skepticism of carbon taxes before proposing his own carbon tax scheme. His new energy agenda centers around the Pennsylvania Climate…
Fact Sheet
Read More: PACER & PRESS AnalysisEducation
Commonwealth Foundation Launches Billboards Spotlighting Need for Lifeline Scholarships
Harrisburg, Pa., April 1, 2024 — The Commonwealth Foundation today launched several digital billboards across Philadelphia promoting the Lifeline Scholarship Program that would allow students to escape Pennsylvania’s lowest-performing schools. Kicking…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Launches Billboards Spotlighting Need for Lifeline ScholarshipsTaxes & Economy
‘Shrinkflation’ ignores the true problem: deficit spending
Originally published at the Allentown Morning Call President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey deflect blame for high inflation away from the true cause: their own policies. They…
Media Hit
Read More: ‘Shrinkflation’ ignores the true problem: deficit spendingEducation
It’s the year of school choice, as is every year to follow
Originally published at LNP Those involved in the educational freedom movement often proclaim, “This is our year.” Yet, we can’t agree on which year that is. Forbes and the…
Media Hit
Read More: It’s the year of school choice, as is every year to follow