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.”
Criminal Justice Reform
Lawmakers Move Two Key Criminal Justice Reforms
Pennsylvania General lawmakers moved two key criminal justice reform bills aimed at improving Pennsylvania’s onerous probation system and limiting the excessive burdens of a criminal record.
Memo
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Commonwealth Foundation Congratulates New House Leadership
June 24, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Following the retirement of House Speaker Mike Turzai, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ elected a new Speaker and several new members of the majority…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Congratulates New House LeadershipState Budget
Strange Budget for Strange Times: 2020-2021 State Budget Overview
State assembly funds the government through November with a budget chock full of federal aid. …
Memo
Read More: Strange Budget for Strange Times: 2020-2021 State Budget Overview
Commonwealth Foundation Congratulates Speaker Cutler
June 22, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Rep. Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County earned a bi-partisan majority vote to become the next speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Commonwealth Foundation Vice President…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Congratulates Speaker CutlerGovernment Accountability
Pa?s unemployment rate down in May, but still at near-record levels
More than 13% of Pennsylvania workers were officially unemployed in May, according to U.S. Department of Labor data released Friday. That’s an improvement from April’s record-setting 15.1% unemployment rate, but still the second highest rate…
Media
Read More: Pa?s unemployment rate down in May, but still at near-record levels
Op-ed: Lawmakers Right to End Wolf’s Extended Disaster Declaration
While some economic harm was unavoidable, Wolf’s policies were unfair to local small businesses. He inexplicably shut down small retailers, including garden center and appliance stores, while allowing big box…
Commentary
Read More: Op-ed: Lawmakers Right to End Wolf’s Extended Disaster DeclarationGovernment Accountability
A Door to Liberation: Why Juneteenth Matters
Juneteenth is a celebration that makes Independence Day a more fulfilled promise across America. The freedom extolled on July 4th, 1776, was robust, even if it took June 19th, 1865,…
Commentary
Read More: A Door to Liberation: Why Juneteenth MattersTaxes & Economy
Legislation Moves to Reform Licensing Laws for Citizens with Criminal Records
With a unanimous committee vote, the state House has opened the door to prosperity for 3 million Pennsylvanians. This week, the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee passed legislation helping incarcerated citizens…
Media
Read More: Legislation Moves to Reform Licensing Laws for Citizens with Criminal RecordsEducation
Understanding Back on Track ESAs
Key Points Pennsylvania children lost months of schooling—many without access to educational resources. Families are bearing increased expenses from at-home learning. Back on Track Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) will help…
Media
Read More: Understanding Back on Track ESAsCriminal Justice Reform
Pa. Tackles Two New Law Enforcement Reforms
Pennsylvanians are voicing their concern on policing reform. Encouragingly, lawmakers are listening to constituents and pursuing meaningful, balanced policing reform.
Commentary
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Shutdown Poll: 74% of Pa. Voters Support Relaxing Restrictions on Businesses
June 11, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — An overwhelming majority of Pennsylvanians favor allowing businesses to safely resume operations, according to a poll released today by the Commonwealth Foundation. The poll of…
Press Release
Read More: Shutdown Poll: 74% of Pa. Voters Support Relaxing Restrictions on Businesses
Commonwealth Foundation Thanks Speaker Mike Turzai
June 10, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Mike Turzai announced that he will resign from his seat in the General Assembly effective June 15. Turzai…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Thanks Speaker Mike Turzai
Pa. Legislature Votes to End Gov. Wolf’s COVID Disaster Declaration
June 9, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, the Pa. Legislature passed a resolution (HR 836) to end Gov. Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 disaster declaration with bi-partisan majorities in both chambers.
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Legislature Votes to End Gov. Wolf’s COVID Disaster DeclarationGovernment Accountability
Top 10 PLCB Boondoggles
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has survived debacle after debacle. The closures around COVID-19 are just the most recent example of the PLCB's incompetence. Here are the top 10 PLCB…
Commentary
Read More: Top 10 PLCB BoondogglesGovernment Accountability
Fed Data Shows Wolf’s Shutdown Caused Unemployment Spike
June 5, 2020, Harrisburg, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s shutdown was done earlier, was more expansive, and had fewer exemptions than most other states, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of…
Media
Read More: Fed Data Shows Wolf’s Shutdown Caused Unemployment SpikeGovernment Accountability
Op-ed: Pennsylvanians Deserve an Apology
Gov. Wolf called local officials, job creators, and workers “cowards” and “deserters” for assessing local risks and daring to think for themselves.
Commentary
Read More: Op-ed: Pennsylvanians Deserve an Apology
End Government Liquor
Let's end the government liquor monopoly! Pennsylvania is one of only two states where the government controls the sale of wine and spirits. The other is Utah. The government…
Commentary
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Getting Kids Back on Track
Because of coronavirus shut-downs, Pennsylvania children lost months of schooling and parents are struggling with unexpected expenses from at-home learning. Back on Track ESAs can help kids catch up over…
Commentary
Read More: Getting Kids Back on TrackTaxes & Economy
PLCB is Bad for Business
The PLCB harms Pa. businesses in an industry that has been decimated by COVID-19.
Fact Sheet
Read More: PLCB is Bad for BusinessRegulation
PLCB’s Mishandling of COVID-19
The coronavirus pandemic has shown the state liquor control board's inability to provide Pennsylvanian's the service the deserve.
Fact Sheet
Read More: PLCB’s Mishandling of COVID-19Taxes & Economy
Economic Aspects of Liquor Privatization
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is a highly unprofitable monopoly with extraordinary powers that have recently been used to increase prices and harm businesses.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Economic Aspects of Liquor Privatization