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.”
Regulation
Newspapers Endorse Pennsylvania Liquor Store Privatization
Following our report showing that moving from state-run liquor stores to licensure has little impact on alcohol consumption, underage drinking, and DUI rates, Pennsylvania papers are again joining the…
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The state & alcohol: Go out of business
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Read More: The state & alcohol: Go out of businessGovernment Accountability
Bonusgate Developments and Senate Reforms
Tom Barnes of the Post-Gazette notes that the Pennsylvania Senate is outlining a number of new rules, largely related to legislative staff and taxpayer dollars being used to support…
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Read More: Bonusgate Developments and Senate ReformsTaxes & Economy
V and American Politics
While attending a conference in North Carolina, and staying in the same room Yogi Berra did (though not on the same night), Joe Sterns and I caught the premier…
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Read More: V and American PoliticsHealth Care
Guide to Pelosi-Care
The Heritage Foundation has some resources on the latest health care bill being pushed by US House Democrats, including a summary of the legislation, and the full…
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More proof: State should exit liquor business
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Read More: More proof: State should exit liquor businessPublic Union Democracy
SEPTA Union Doesn’t Represent “The Working Class”
About 5,100 union workers for SEPTA went on strike early Tuesday, leaving 450,000 people to find new ways to travel. The union is demanding a 4% raise and an…
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Read More: SEPTA Union Doesn’t Represent “The Working Class”Taxes & Economy
Lies, More Lies, and Statistics
On Oct 10, Pennsylvania released a preliminary report on received ARRA (i.e. “simulus”) funds. The study concluded that “$262,592,907.68 has been spent to date and 1,408 direct full-time equivalent…
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Read More: Lies, More Lies, and StatisticsRegulation
PA Homeowners Come Second To Horse Racing Industry
The Pennsylvania Legislature’s willingness to succumb to special interests has been well documented by the Commonwealth Foundation, but the amount of attention given to the horse racing industry is…
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Read More: PA Homeowners Come Second To Horse Racing IndustryGovernment Accountability
Transparency and Performance in Government
The Mercatus Center has a new working paper on the importance of government transparency. Authors Jerry Brito and Drew Perrault argue that, “Transparency is a means to an end…
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Read More: Transparency and Performance in GovernmentState Budget
Pennsylvania’s October Revenues Fall Short
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released October revenue collections. Once again, the numbers fell short of projections – the state is now $160 short of estimate for the fiscal…
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Read More: Pennsylvania’s October Revenues Fall Short
Interstate 80 may get tolls
Topics on this page Interstate 80…
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Read More: Interstate 80 may get tollsRegulation
Rendell Teaches Obama How to Create Phony Jobs
A report released on Friday by the Pennsylvania Department of General Services shows 7,400 jobs have been either created or retained(Capitolwire Subscription) in Pennsylvania using federal stimulus dollars. Jim…
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Read More: Rendell Teaches Obama How to Create Phony JobsTaxes & Economy
Turnpike Drama Continues
Turnpike Officials have admitted that a grand jury has been investigating the commission for at least five months. Although this investigation is separate from the shady dealings surrounding the Valley…
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Read More: Turnpike Drama ContinuesTaxes & Economy
How Valuable is I-80 Tolling?
When the Federal Highway Administration rejected the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s proposal to toll I-80, one of the numerous reasons was there had been no…
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Read More: How Valuable is I-80 Tolling?Government Accountability
Size Isn’t Everything
Sen. Dave Argall has introduced another attempt to reduce the size of Pennsylvania’s General Assembly. Pennsylvania is ranked 2nd in the nation for largest state legislator size (totaling…
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School taxes in Pennsylvania may soar to pay for pension promises
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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Read More: School taxes in Pennsylvania may soar to pay for pension promises
Lack Of Tort Reform Costing Pennsylvania
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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Read More: Lack Of Tort Reform Costing PennsylvaniaState Budget
Spending Limits: Not Special Exemptions
Yesterday, Republican state Rep. Sam Rohrer of Berks County introduced legislation to help local governments cope with declining revenues, ever-increasing amounts of regulation and new programs from…
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Read More: Spending Limits: Not Special ExemptionsCriminal Justice Reform
Mandatory Minimum Sentences Increase Costs
A study by the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing found that mandatory minimum sentences increase the cost of the corrections system without decreasing crime. Corrections costs are already a major…
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Read More: Mandatory Minimum Sentences Increase Costs