Nathan Benefield
Senior Vice President
An Ohio native, Nate holds an undergraduate degree in political science and economics and a master’s degree in public service management from DePaul University in Chicago. He also completed his doctoral studies (ABD) in political science at Loyola University, also in Chicago.
Nate joined the Commonwealth Foundation in 2005. Now as senior vice president, he provides strategic leadership as well as operational oversight spanning policy analysis, government relations, marketing, and communications.
Nate has researched and written extensively on public policy issues including the state budget, public sector labor reform, government spending and taxes, liquor privatization, education, and economic development. Under Nate’s policy leadership, the Commonwealth Foundation’s work on public sector pension law helped drive the bipartisan pension reform of 2017, heralded by the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post as an example for other states to follow.
Nate has testified numerous times before state legislative committees and is often called upon by legislators and members of the media to provide expertise. He is a frequent commentator on both television and radio, and his writings have appeared across the state and nationally in outlets including the Philadelphia Inquirer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Patriot-News, and Weekly Standard.
Nate’s favorite rock song and personal motto are both “Don’t Stop Believin.”
Government Accountability
Lawmakers who blog
Tony Phyrillas comments on PA lawmakers who blog (based on a Stateline article). They include Sen. Eichelberger, whose blog I read daily, Rep. White, who I…
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Read More: Lawmakers who blog
Lease opponents fail to offer all the facts
Here is my letter to the editor in the Post-Gazette (online only) on the oversight of key facts about Act 44 and a Turnpike Lease: Your May 28…
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Read More: Lease opponents fail to offer all the facts
Evans, Capelli to Introduce Lease Bill
State Rep. Dwight Evans (a Philadelphia Democrat) and Rep. Steven Capelli (a Williamsport-area Republican) will introduce a bill (HB 2593) to authorizing leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Paul Nussbaum reports in…
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Read More: Evans, Capelli to Introduce Lease BillTaxes & Economy
A Corporate Tax Cut Benefits All
Greg Mankiw has a great opinion piece in the NY Times on the benefits of reducing the corporate income tax: In fact, a corporate rate cut would…
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Read More: A Corporate Tax Cut Benefits AllTaxes & Economy
Was Jesus a Libertarian?
Michael Gerson, the architect of all that “Compassionate Conservative” nonsense, had a column in the Washington Post claiming Jesus was not a libertarian (or even a fiscal conservative with…
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Read More: Was Jesus a Libertarian?Health Care
More evidence on the failure of RomneyCare
Michael Tanner blasts positive media coverage of a new report on Massachusetts health care, pointing out the many reasons why RomneyCare is a failure (from the same report). Tanner…
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Read More: More evidence on the failure of RomneyCareEducation
Real Savings: Cutting Cybers vs. School Choice
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Post-Gazette have stories on the renewed push to reduce cyber school funding. Rep. Karen Beyer and other proponents are touting that: The bill…
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Read More: Real Savings: Cutting Cybers vs. School ChoiceEducation
Charter Schools Make the Grade
Bob Maranto has an editorial in the Philadelphia Daily News on the reporting on charter school scandals. He notes that charter schools are more accountable – in that they…
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Read More: Charter Schools Make the GradeRegulation
Smoking Bans Ain’t Cool, Unless You’re a Fool
The conference committee on banning private businesses’ right to allow smoking in their establishments has finally reported a bill. GrassrootsPA has the news roundup. I have written on this…
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Read More: Smoking Bans Ain’t Cool, Unless You’re a Fool
Abolish the Turnpike Commission?
Rock the Capital has a new report looking at the history, efficiency, and corruption of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, raising the question of whether there is any need for…
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Read More: Abolish the Turnpike Commission?Regulation
We Don’t Need a Climate Tax on the Poor
Sen. Inhofe in today’s Wall Street Journal outlines the consequences of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act: The Lieberman-Warner bill (America’s Climate Security Act) represents the largest tax increase…
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Read More: We Don’t Need a Climate Tax on the Poor
Rendell tells PTC, “Stop Stalling!”
Governor Rendell has called out the Turnpike Commission for stalling on resubmitting their I-80 tolling application.But noting that Governor Rendell also stated that it will be…
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Read More: Rendell tells PTC, “Stop Stalling!”Government Accountability
Secret budget meetings have begun
John Micek reports on (and mocks) Governor Rendell’s press conference on the state budget yesterday: Rendell and some House Democrats called for an end to the annual posturing…
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Read More: Secret budget meetings have begunEducation
Higher Graduation Rates For Milwaukee Choice Students
A New Study from School Choice Wisconsin finds that choice schools in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program have substantially higher graduation rates than the Milwaukee public schools. Furthermore, as…
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Read More: Higher Graduation Rates For Milwaukee Choice Students
New Website, Fact Sheet on PA Turnpike Lease
Pennsylvania Transportation Partners (the Abertis-Citi consortium that won the bid on the Turnpike lease) has a new website along with 12-page briefing book on the lease deal. On…
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Read More: New Website, Fact Sheet on PA Turnpike LeasePublic Union Democracy
Dad declares war on teachers union
Simon Campbell of Stop Teacher Strikes is profiled in the Courier Times…
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Read More: Dad declares war on teachers union
Tolls a good way to fund roads
My letter to the editor in the Beaver County Times & Allegheny Times Online: The May 21 editorial on the Pennsylvania Turnpike lease calling Interstate80 drivers/rural…
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Read More: Tolls a good way to fund roadsEducation
School boards fall prey to Edifice Complex
Several PA school boards put their Edifice Complex on display this past week. The Danville School Board voted to renovate three elementary schools, rather than save…
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Read More: School boards fall prey to Edifice ComplexRegulation
Privatizing the State Liquor Stores
State Senator Rob Wonderling talks about divestiture of the state liquor stores (MP3 file). More on State Store privatization: “Public Benefits of Private Liquor” news release and…
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Read More: Privatizing the State Liquor StoresTaxes & Economy
Retirement Assets Increase to $160,000 Per Household
Mark Perry on the Carpe Diem blog offers some highlights of a new report on investment and retirement savings in the US. The growth of participation in mutual…
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Read More: Retirement Assets Increase to $160,000 Per HouseholdTaxes & Economy
How many pay no taxes?
The Tax Foundation analysis of IRS data finds that nearly one-third of those filing tax returns in 2005 paid no income tax. The return info itself in interesting –…
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Read More: How many pay no taxes?