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.”
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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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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Poll on Judicial Retention – My Take
Triad Strategies and Susquehanna Polling released a very intersting poll on voter attitudes toward the November retention elections. Unfortunately, their analysis is all wrong. They found 63% of voters…
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I-80 lease signed with missing details
Philadelphia Inquirer on the controversy over when the I-80 lease agreement was signed: Yesterday, the agencies said their lawyers had continued to work on details of the…
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House Open Records bill weakened
AP story can be found here Reading Eagle story on Rep. Caltagirone (a cosponsor) withdrawing support following the changes.
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Brouillette on PCN
Today’s hearing on Transportation Funding and Public Private Partnerships will be airing several times on the Pennsylvania Cable Network over the next few days. 8:35 pm tonight (Thursday)10:35…
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PennFuture: Give Governor Rendell power to control the weather
The environmental group Penn Future released a “PennFuture Facts” calling for the PA General Assembly to pass parts of its agenda. Yet the alarmist “facts” they use are so…
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When was I-80 lease signed?
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is claiming they complied with Act 44 deadlines, and impugns our news release on the issue. In an October 17 news release, the PTC stated,…
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How to Argue against SCHIP
While the PA House is currently debating a resolution to encourage members of Congress to override President Bush’s veto of SCHIP (granted, marginally less wasteful of time and resources than…
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Don’t leave educating our children to the government
Jeff Jacoby column in the Boston Globe: “FREEDOM of education, being an essential of civil and religious liberty . . . must not be interfered with under any…
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Energy independence means higher taxes in Pennsylvania
The Sam Adams Alliance blogs on Governor Rendell’s “energy idependence” strategy.
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Senator Folmer Unveils “Healthy Pennsylvania”
State Senator Mike Folmer has unveiled his Healthy Pennsylvania proposal – a series of health care reforms, that would promote competition and reduce costs of health insurance and health…
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Ethanol’s Water Shortage
Wall Street Journal piece with more on the problems with ethanol mandates and subsidies: Writing in Science magazine, Renton Righelato and Dominick Spracklen estimate that in order…
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SCHIP Demagoguery
Amanda Carpenter on more SCHIP rhetoric from Nancy Pelosi. Paul Simon, sans Garfunkel, also spoke, as he needs a photo opportunity; he wants a shot at redemption; he…
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