Nathan Benefield
Chief Policy Officer
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 Chief Policy Officer , 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
Big government to blame for out-of-control lobbyists
Amanda Carpenter raises the point that lobbyists, for all their flaws, are not to blame for the corruption in Washington (or Harrisburg), but rather, it is unlimited government that…
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Read More: Big government to blame for out-of-control lobbyistsEducation
Home Skool Stoodents Spel to Gud
I found this story (HT to Michelle Malkin) interesting, mainly because of the irony. Subway is holding an essay contest which excludes homeschoolers—who have…
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Read More: Home Skool Stoodents Spel to GudTaxes & Economy
Federal Taxes and Household Income
The Congressional Budget Office has a new data page which shows the distribution of federal income taxes. Hat Tip to Government Bytes.
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Read More: Federal Taxes and Household IncomeEducation
PA 12th in ranking of charter school laws
The Center for Education Reform issued a ranking of charter school laws by state. Pennsylvania earns a respectable 12th, earning a ‘B’, but has room for improvement.
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Read More: PA 12th in ranking of charter school lawsTaxes & Economy
Gas Taxes By State
Mark J. Perry posted this map showing gas taxes by state. Note Pennsylvania is a red state on this map. The data source is API…
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Read More: Gas Taxes By StateTaxes & Economy
Economic “stimulus” to deliver?
Bloomberg.com reports most economists think the “job creation” from the economic stimulus package are greatly overstated – if there will be any at all. Oh, now you tell us.
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Read More: Economic “stimulus” to deliver?Taxes & Economy
How much of your workday goes to pay taxes?
The Tax Foundation has put their Tax Freedom Day calculations into an eight-hour workday: How Long America Works to Pay Taxes in…
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Read More: How much of your workday goes to pay taxes?Regulation
Take Us Out to the Ball Game
Reason TV has a new video on whether sports stadiums are really worth it. Nick Gillespie notes that stadium subsidies are just another example of the Edifice…
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Read More: Take Us Out to the Ball GameTaxes & Economy
Conservative Movement, RIP … or Not
Dan Flynn writes that the “Conservative Movement” is dead: Eurocommunism is gone and party conservatives now openly question the utility of even limited government rhetoric in 21st-century America.
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Read More: Conservative Movement, RIP … or Not
Turnpike Lease to Save Taxpayers $87 Million
As I pointed out last month the Pennsylvania Turnpike continues to receive taxpayer subsidy (even while making payments to PennDoT) to the tune of $120 million per year. In…
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Read More: Turnpike Lease to Save Taxpayers $87 Million
Climate Change Bill to Hurt PA Economy
The Heritage Foundation has a new report on the economic costs of the Lieberman–Warner climate change bill. They have also provided an analysis for each state. The estimated…
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Read More: Climate Change Bill to Hurt PA EconomyTaxes & Economy
Scarnati’s Transportation Plan
Senate Pro Tem Joe Scarnati has announced his own transportation funding plan – which he promised to do in January, including a “hybrid” Turnpike lease plan (he backtracked…
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Read More: Scarnati’s Transportation PlanState Budget
How Bad is the Farm Bill
In light of today’s front page commentary on the federal Farm Bill Fiasco, here are some more links describing how awful this legislation is. Citizen’s Against Government Waste…
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Read More: How Bad is the Farm BillTaxes & Economy
Cappy & Castille Confuse Courage & Cowardice
Tim Potts of Democracy Rising PA offers a commentary on the League of Women Voters lawsuit against former justice Ralph Cappy and Chief Justice Castille’s threats against…
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Read More: Cappy & Castille Confuse Courage & Cowardice
Turnpike Lease Editorials
The Patriot News editorializes that a Turnpike lease appears to be the best option. The Philadelphia Inquirer offers no definite verdict, only noting concerns over “giving up control”…
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Read More: Turnpike Lease Editorials
PA Turnpike Concession: Gaining control, not losing It
Len Gilroy writes on Reason’s Out of Control blog how a Turnpike Lease agreement actually gives the state, and the taxpayers, more control over how the Turnpike is operated.
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Read More: PA Turnpike Concession: Gaining control, not losing ItHealth Care
The New Big Dig
Wall Street Journal on the pitfalls of RomneyCare.
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Read More: The New Big Dig
Turnpike Commission stalling on I-80 tolling application
While Governor Rendell wanted to get a revised application for tolling I-80 to the feds by the end of the week, so he could ask for an expedited answer and…
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Read More: Turnpike Commission stalling on I-80 tolling applicationTaxes & Economy
Money discriminates against blind people
A federal court ruled that paper money discriminates against blind people, since they can’t tell how much the money is worth. Note to Paulistas: This is because the blind…
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Read More: Money discriminates against blind people
Pennsylvania Turnpike Lease Info and Resources
Turnpike Lease/BidOverviewFull Concession AgreementSynopsis of Lease Requirements/LimitsConcerns About Turnpike Lease MisguidedTurnpike Commission implicit “bid”: $5.3 billionP3 Information…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Lease Info and Resources
Turnpike Lease News Roundup
There are plenty of news articles on the Turnpike lease deal/bid, offering a number of legislative leaders and local lawmakers’ takes (articles quoting the Commonwealth Foundation listed first):…
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Read More: Turnpike Lease News Roundup