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.”
Orie wants to change turnpike commission
Post-Gazette on Sen. Orie’s three proposals to reform the Turnpike Commission: Prohibit the commission from hiring outside lobbyists. Turnpike contracts and bond work would be competitively bid. Future employees…
Media
Read More: Orie wants to change turnpike commissionTaxes & Economy
Mass Transit Reform: Lessons for Pennsylvania
Executive Summary Pennsylvania’s two major public transit agencies, the Philadelphia-area Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and the Pittsburgh-based Port Authority Transit (PAT), have been in financial crisis for years, with…
Fact Sheet
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Rendell begs for more federal tax money for SCHIP
Governor Rendell calls for more federal funding for the state’s Child Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). Why? Because without it, the “Cover All Kids” plan passed last year would cost…
Media
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Alternatives to Penn Pike lease flout federal law
Toll Roads News on the fact that the House Democrats plan to toll I-80 to generate revenue for roads isn’t legal under federal law. That hasn’t stopped Republican Sens.
Media
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Was Rendell’s “Turnpike Lease” a ruse?
Brad Bumstead believes that Governor Rendell’s proposal to lease the Turnpike was all part of a conspiracy theory to make the Turnpike Commission’s proposal to expand its authorities, raise…
Media
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Success in Philadelphia
Wall Street Journal editorial on the success of the private managers in Philadelphia schools. See my Commentary on the issue. Topics on this page Philadelphia…
Media
Read More: Success in PhiladelphiaState Budget
Pennsylvania Families Need Government to Prioritize Spending
All families must learn to live within a budget. They understand that they can’t spend more than what they earn—at least not for very long. Frequently this means saying “No”…
Commentary
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Will Rendell and Senate GOP sell out on transportation?
Capitolwire.com reports that Governor Rendell, and possibly Senate Republicans, will go along with House Democrats plan to toll I-80 and raise Turnpike tolls, and have higher local taxes…
Media
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School Enrollment vs. Staffing
A reader requested more info about some data in our Fat Facts of the Week on public school staff vs. enrollment. Here is the latest data from the…
Media
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Gut-and-Replace Tranportation Bill to Be voted on Monday
Post-Gazette on the House Democrats Transportation plan (also see Philadelphia Inquirer story) – done by gutting and replacing existing legislation. The proposal to get more money from taxpayers…
Media
Read More: Gut-and-Replace Tranportation Bill to Be voted on MondayState Budget
Senate Takes Step to Put PA on Spending Diet
Commonwealth Foundation applauds WAM-free, low-growth budget HARRISBURG, PA — On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Senate passed a 2007-08 budget in the spirit of the Taxpayer Protection Act. This $27.0 billion budget…
Press Release
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Save up your quarters for I-79
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on the House GOP plan to turn interstates 78, 79, 80, 81 and 95 into toll roads. Further, to place those roads under control of the Turnpike…
Media
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Masch on “Irreparable Harm” by spending limits
Budget Secretary Michael Masch issued a news release decrying all the “vital services” that would be cut, had the state implement spending limits in past years. Masch’s demagoguery obscures…
Media
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Response to Critics of a Turnpike Lease
The Reason Foundation has a new version of their response to the leading criticisms (and questions) about a potential lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Topics on this page…
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Read More: Response to Critics of a Turnpike LeaseTaxes & Economy
Ideas to Improve Pennsylvania’s Fiscal and Economic Health
:: Fat Facts of the Week ::…
Commentary
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Senate Votes to Keep Ethanol Tariff
Andy Roth of The Club For Growth on a US Senate vote to keep a tariff on ethanol imports. If lawmakers believe ethanol is good for the environment (the…
Media
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Rohrer proposes to limit prevailing wage
Rep. Sam Rohrer has introduced legislation to eliminate prevailing wage limitations on road and bridge construction. Click here for more on the cost of prevailing wage laws for…
Media
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Commonwealth Foundation YouTubing
We are now on YouTube! Visit the Commonwealth Foundation’s YouTube Channel for our latest videos; we will be adding more from past events soon. Topics on this page…
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Turnpike proposes new funding plan
The Turnpike Commission modified their plan for new funding for roads – eliminating the “congestion tax”, but still proposing:– New Bonds tied to the gas tax– Turnpike…
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New, higher taxes and fees in Pa. transit fund plan
Dwight Evans and other House Democrats apparently have their own plan for funding transportation, which includes: Certificate of vehicle title, now $22.50, would increase by $6.50, to $29…
Media
Read More: New, higher taxes and fees in Pa. transit fund plan
Giving small businesses options
Reps. DePasquale (D) and Mackereth (R) introduced legislation allowing small businesses to pool resources into association plans to provide health insurance to employees. This is one of the…
Media
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