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.”
Politicians fight against openness
Times-Tribune editorial on why the PA House gutted the Open Records bill, effectively undermining the effort to make state government somewhat open. In related news, Governor Rendell has decided…
Media
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Biofuels Report: “No more Subsidies!”
Earth Track has released a report titled Biofuels – At What Cost? Government support for ethanol and biodiesel in the United States: 2007 Update. The…
Media
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Did Governor Rendell fix Medical Malpractice?
Not to impugn John Graham’s post on StateHouseCall, saying “Gov. Rendell Has One Health Reform Half Right,” but we think Pennsylvania gets less than a thumbs up on…
Media
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PA Conceals List of Polling Places
In an odd move, in the wake of open records reform, the state has decided to conceal its list of polling places. They cite fear of terrorists getting…
Media
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Did Thornburgh really call for “moderation”?
The most recent Madonna and Young Political Uncorrected commentary claims that former Gov. Dick Thornburgh’s congressional testimony wasn’t about defending his client Cyril Wecht, who is under indictment…
Media
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Educators urge Legislature to fix system (i.e. spend more)
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on the latest call for increased state spending on education from the Education Policy and Leadership Center. Their drumbeat is that the state’s share is only 38%…
Media
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State Lawmakers Argue Gaming Board Lacks Authority
ABC 27 article and video on the latest controversy over at the Gaming Control Board: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports DeNaples is being investigated by a Dauphin County…
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Watch Benefield live on PCN
The Pennsylvania Cable Network will be covering my testimony on prison privatization live – estimated time is 2:30 pm.
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Private Prisons Increase Capacity, Save Money, Improve Service
Good Afternoon, my name is Nathan Benefield, I am the Director of Policy Research with the Commonwealth Foundation, a research and educational organization based in Harrisburg. I would like to…
Testimony
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Rendell: Give me money, I will stop terrorism
Governor Rendell continues to claim that energy plan will stop funding of terrorism. It won’t – his plan is all about getting more money to hand out to…
Media
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The Global-Warming Debate Isn’t Over Until It’s Over
John Stossel on Townhall.com on the Global Warming scare. Video of his latest segment is posted below. Also of interest is this New York Times column that…
Media
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House Republicans in double trouble
First, the bonusgate investigation has added subpoenas for House Republicans to those of House Democrats. One can only assume the Senate is next. Now Brett Feese’s…
Media
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We’re #1! And #4? In Lobbying, that is.
Finally, Pennsylvania ranks first in something – unfortunately, it is a dubious honor. The ranking is “most money spent on federal lobbying” by state and local governments. The great…
Media
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Opposing Reform for Opposing Reform’s sake
Yesterday the House voted to water down an ethics bill, which would have appointed half the members of the ethics committee by random, instead of by leadership appoints (read the…
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Stossel Video – Global Warming
John Stossel’s latest “Give Me A Break” segment on global warming addresses some key facts and myths: Stossel will be the keynote speaker at our Speaker Franklin…
Media
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Lawmaker’s bills to counter Rendell health package
Chambersburg Public Opinion on Sen. Folmer’s Healthy Pennsylvania proposal. Governor Rendell has indicated he might, maybe, support this plan “The governor’s interest is in health care…
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Oh to be an ex-lawmaker
Philadelphia Inquirer on former state rep Brett Feese’s $250,000 salary as counsel to the House Republicans. Though Feese’s salary is far higher than almost anyone in state government, including…
Media
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We’re #2
PolicyBlog has been named #2 on Pennsylvania’s Most Influential Political blogs by BlogNetNews. I’m not really sure what goes into the rankings (but I think linking to the ratings…
Media
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Indiana Toll Road Better Under Private Management?
This letter in the Tribune Review covers why the Indiana Toll Road is better since it was leased under competitive bidding. It is in response to an earlier letter…
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Act 44 borrowing ($532 million) to begin
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the PA Turnpike Commission will issue over $500 million in bonds this week as part of its payment to PennDOT. The debt will be paid…
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FWHA to PennDOT: I-80 not “done deal”
A letter from the Federal Highway Administration to PennDOT Secretary Biehler makes clear that tolling for I-80 is not a “done deal” as PA Turnpike chief Brimmeier has allegedly…
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