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.”
Tax Money for Soccer Stadium?
Lowman Henry on the wisdom – or lack thereof – of using $45 million in taxpayer subsidies to build a soccer stadium in Pennsylvania. There are a couple of…
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Bill threatens future of Pa. cyber schools
Editorial by Joanne Jones Barnett in the Express Times on the renewed effort to limit funding, enrollment, and now even teachers in cyber charter schools.
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Tolling rivals confront leaders
Centre Daily Times on the most recent discussion of tolling I-80. Sounds like it isn’t too popular in that neck of the woods. Also, Turnpike CEO Joe Brimmeier is…
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State’s pension plans on the edge
Lancaster Sunday News article on the state pension system and proposed legislation to convert to a defined contribution plan. For more on the proposed pension reform, check out our…
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How much should we spend on health care?
A couple of interesting blog post on StateHouseCall.org regarding the Familes USA report on the burden of health care cost (get the PA report here, and the PA…
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Reform is Alive and Well
Rep. Josh Shapiro enters into the “is reform dead” debate on his new blog.
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No single solution to transportation crisis
Robert Latham takes us (along with the Turnpike Commission) to task in an Patriot News op-ed. Among the charges lobbed our way is that we are pushing a Turnpike…
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JoePa makes more than me.
Penn State is ruined! At least that is what their lawyers claimed would happen if they had to reveal Joe Paterno’s salary. But the state Supreme Court ruled that the…
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Act 44/Turnpike Links
Act 44 Information: Act 44 and Transportation Policy Points I-80 Lease and other documents Morgan-Stanley report Rendell on CNBC – “Act 44 wasn’t good enough” IRRPP…
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More on REAL ID
More on the topic of our REAL ID Budget & Tax News update on REAL ID in the states. From Cato: The REAL ID Act: An Update…
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FreedomWorks calls for Repeal of Act 44
Freedom Works has joined in the calls for repeal of Act 44 – the Transportation Funding scheme of borrowing, raising Turnpike tolls, and tolling I-80 to fund road…
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Rendell-Lite alternate energy bills advance
The PA Senate keeps pushing forward alternative energy legislation, or “Rendell Lite.” One of the bills would “provide a $1 state subsidy for each gallon of biofuel, made…
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Britney Spears to adopt?!?
My first thought on reading the headline “Britney Spears to adopt Chinese twins” was that it was a cruel joke. My second thought, on reading the story, was that…
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Another “Is Reform Dead” Editorial
Madonna and Young’s Politically Uncorrected attempts to assess “the reform movement” (which as a monicker needs to be killed). They are generally accurate in their assessment of the lack…
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The Milton Friedman Choir on School Choice
The Milton Friedman Choir sings the School Choice Song Hat Tip to The Sam Adams Alliance, via the NTU Blog…
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Blaim Steelers’ Fans for Soggy Field
A lot has been made about the condition of the field during last night’s Steelers-Dolphins game. First off let me say that was a great football game, and anyone who…
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A new rathole
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on the use of taxpayer money to conduct political polls.
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Does Socialism Work in Health Care? Debunking the Myths
John Goodman on some facts about Canadian and US health care.
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State bonus investigation a step ahead of shredders
Post-Gazette article on how the Attorney General’s investigation into Bonusgate is prevent House Democrats from recycling paper.
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Turnpike Commission’s version of MiniTru
Turnpike Commission Vice-Chair and bond attorney Tim Carson in the Morning Call offers a rebuttal to the Brouillette-Gilroy Commentary. Carson’s editorial is as accurate as an Enron…
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The Tragedy of the Commons
John Stossel on the lost lesson of Thanksgiving: When the Pilgrims first settled the Plymouth Colony, they organized their farm economy along communal lines. The goal was to…
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