Jennifer Stefano
Executive Vice President
Prior to joining the Commonwealth Foundation in 2016, Jennifer served in numerous leadership roles at Americans for Prosperity and the Americans for Prosperity Foundation. The Emmy-nominated former TV reporter and anchor spent most of her career in the private sector, putting to work her business degree from Villanova University.
Jennifer has spent the last decade advocating for public policies that maximize human promise and individual freedom. She says, “I want to live a useful life. I feel useful doing work that helps people—especially children—flourish.”
A native of Philadelphia, Jennifer is a regular commentator for the Hill. Her work has been published in numerous media outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Philadelphia Inquirer, and FoxNews.com. She has been profiled by the Washington Post, International Herald Tribune, Forbes and other local and national publications. She is a guest commentator for national news programs on FOX News, FOX Business, CNBC, MSNBC and CNN.
Jennifer was recently named to the Advisor Council for the Executive Women’s Leadership Program at George Washington University’s School of Business. She is a visiting fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum. And in 2015, Jennifer became one of the Claremont Institute’s Lincoln Fellows for her work and impact on national affairs.
Education
The teacher shortage isn’t the real issue with Philly schools
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Daniel Nansi always dreamed that his daughter would go to school in America — until he landed in Philadelphia. Originally from Benin, a…
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Read More: The teacher shortage isn’t the real issue with Philly schoolsEducation
Democrats’ War On Charter Schools Is Sending Families Into The Arms Of Republicans
Originally published at The Federalist Democrats’ war on education opportunity is hurting them in public opinion, and it will hurt them in November. There’s a war brewing in education…
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Read More: Democrats’ War On Charter Schools Is Sending Families Into The Arms Of RepublicansProsperity
Biden’s divisive rhetoric won’t hide the Democrats’ massive policy failures
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Democrats are demonizing Republican voters again — a sure tell that they are panicked about getting shellacked in the November midterm elections. That’s…
Media Hit
Read More: Biden’s divisive rhetoric won’t hide the Democrats’ massive policy failuresProsperity
Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the burden of college debt to everyday Americans
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Nothing celebrates the doggedness of American workers like transferring self-incurred debts from college-educated workers to the backs of those who elected to forgo…
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Read More: Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the burden of college debt to everyday AmericansProsperity
Jennifer Stefano appears on Wilkow! August 31, 2022
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Read More: Jennifer Stefano appears on Wilkow! August 31, 2022
Pa.’s telemedicine waivers create confusion
Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer April Hynes of Bucks County was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in August 2020. In what feels like a previous life…
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Read More: Pa.’s telemedicine waivers create confusionEducation
Why parents are choosing Black-led charter schools
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer For years, Black parents in Philadelphia have been pulling their kids out of traditional public schools and enrolling them in charters. As of…
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The Inflation Reduction Act Won’t Reduce Inflation
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer If you think inflation is sufficiently painful, gird your loins. The Biden administration is about to foist the “Inflation Reduction Act” upon us.
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Read More: The Inflation Reduction Act Won’t Reduce InflationProsperity
What Democrats get wrong about climate change
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Dear Democrats: On the environment, you need to win over people like me. You’re concerned about climate change. It’s one of your defining…
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Read More: What Democrats get wrong about climate changeProsperity
Pennsylvania Avoids a Disastrous Green New Deal Policy—For Now
Originally published at Newsweek Pennsylvanians are, for the moment, protected from high costs of a “Green New Deal” initiative being pushed by Governor Tom Wolf via executive order. Earlier…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Avoids a Disastrous Green New Deal Policy—For NowProsperity
Fetterman should focus less on comedy, more on inflation and policy
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer There’s one person who’s treating his bid for the U.S. Senate like an entertainment opportunity, and it’s not the guy who used to…
Media Hit
Read More: Fetterman should focus less on comedy, more on inflation and policyOpportunity
How to end cancel culture
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Austin Davis, who’s in the running to become Pennsylvania’s first Black lieutenant governor, said reprehensible things a decade ago. They’re degrading and…
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Read More: How to end cancel cultureProsperity
Pennsylvania’s next governor will face a looming budget deficit
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer In 2019-2020, over 75,000 kids in Pennsylvania were denied a chance to leave their failing schools. Now there will be 30,000 fewer,…
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Read More: Pennsylvania’s next governor will face a looming budget deficitProsperity
Gov. Wolf’s legacy: lost lives, livelihoods, and abandoning the vulnerable
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer During the last state budget of his term, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf wants to cement his legacy. It’s Pollyannaish for our governor to…
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Read More: Gov. Wolf’s legacy: lost lives, livelihoods, and abandoning the vulnerableProsperity
Good luck taxing the rich when they’re gone
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Widespread shortages. Economic tumult. Disappearing businesses. When Ayn Rand released her magnum opus, Atlas Shrugged, in 1957, her critics considered it a work…
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Read More: Good luck taxing the rich when they’re goneEducation
It’s time to get progressive about education
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Requis Sherby’s recent Inquirer op-ed about escaping public school bullying as a nonbinary and bisexual student resonates with me. I was bullied,…
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Read More: It’s time to get progressive about educationHealthcare
Nursing shortage can be fixed by speeding up the licensing process
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania is currently enduring one ofthe worst nurse shortages in the nation. A shocking one in four nursing positions went unfilled…
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Read More: Nursing shortage can be fixed by speeding up the licensing process
Why it may be easier than ever for Trump to be elected by Pa. voters
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Dearest progressive reader, because I care about your well-being (if not your worldview), I urge you to pull up the fainting couch before…
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Read More: Why it may be easier than ever for Trump to be elected by Pa. votersProsperity
Putin’s Useful Idiots: How U.S. Climate Extremists Are Funding Russia’s Agenda
Originally published at The Federalist Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is illuminating an ugly truth: the anti-fracking war on America’s energy security is being waged by well-funded, radical U.S. environmental…
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Read More: Putin’s Useful Idiots: How U.S. Climate Extremists Are Funding Russia’s Agenda
Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano appears on Newsmax on May 10, 2022
Topics include the housing market, private businesses doing more for Ukraine than the U.N., and more!…
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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano appears on Newsmax on May 10, 2022Prosperity
As the UN Falters, Can Capitalism Stop Russia?
Originally published in Newsweek Where is the United Nations? The international behemoth’s charter mandates that it “maintain international peace and security.” Despite sucking up billions of American taxpayer dollars…
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Read More: As the UN Falters, Can Capitalism Stop Russia?