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.”
Turnpike Commission Loves P3s
They Mon-Fayette Expressway, which the Turnpike Commission promised to complete in order to get their sweetheart deal passed, will like be built using a public-private partnership. Chris Buckley has…
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Campaign Finance Reform Gone Haywire
This story from the Wall Street Journal (hat tip to Tony Phyrillas) illustrates exactly why campaign donation limits are a meaningless reform. Unfortunately, this is the same type…
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What is the worst part of transportation funding scheme?
As both Congressman Peterson and John Micek have pointed out, the PA Turnpike Commission has a new website touting I-80 tolls, with a silly push-poll asking –…
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Investigation into Bonus-Gate heats up
Post-Gazette reports the the AG’s office has seized records on House Democratic staffers to see if bonuses were tied to campaign work. They are apparently also investigating Mike Veon…
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Public vs. Private: Rebuilding New Orleans
USA Today article on the rebuilding in New Orleans – noting that rebuilding efforts funding by private entrepreneurs and philanthropists are done faster and better than anything funded by…
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Ripping Off Taxpayers, Pennsylvania Style
Richard Vedder of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity weighs in on the PHEAA bonuses. Vedder’s book Going Broke by Degree: Why College Costs Too Much is…
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PHEAA’s solution to bonus furor: pay raises
PHEAA’s solution to bonus furor: pay raises – from the Post-Gazette.
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What Americans Think about Their Schools
Results of a survey on public education and school choice is featured in the latest Education Next. Some of the findings I found interesting: School vouchers are generally viewed…
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The SCHIP Open
AEI paper on the many flaws of proposed SCHIP expansion, primarily that it provides “Hidden Incentives for States to Spend Federal Funds,” driving up the costs to taxpayers by…
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Do the latest welfare numbers stack up?
An AP Story covers the latest news release from the PA Department of Public Welfare claiming lowest number of welfare recipients in nearly 50 years. This rosy analysis…
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Pennsylvania Political War Over Planned Tolls on I-80
New York Times on the debate over tolling I-80. The Times points out, as this blog has, that the plan still requires federal approval, the program the Turnpike…
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Occupational Licensing in the States
Reason Foundation report on occupational icensing in the 50 states and how these requirements prevent many individuals from entering into their chosen profession. While Pennsylvania ranks somewhat low among…
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Lessons from Massachusetts
Sally Pipes on the lessons of Massachusetts’ Health Care Reform. Not to be confused with RomneyCare 2.0 (or as Michael Tanner puts it, Romney abandons RomneyCare)…
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Cyber School Funding on PA Newsmakers
Video of Nathan Benefield on Pennsylvania Newsmakers discussing cyber school funding.
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The Myth of Pre-K
Adam Schaeffer of the Cato Institute tackles the mythical benefits of universal pre-K: In truth, pre-K costs billions of dollars but returns little benefit. Supporters…
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The Global Warming Test
What do you know about Global Warming? Take the Global Warming Test from the Heartland Institute.
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Watch Benefield on Cyber School Funding
I will be on Pennsylvania Newsmakers dicussing cyber school funding. Click here for TV listings this weekend and next week.
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Rendell, Orie: Privatize PHEAA
Post Gazette – PHEAA bonuses enrage Rendell: “I haven’t seen a mind-set change to ‘We’re a public agency and we’re going to act like a public…
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Taxpayers poised to pay $2 billion for pensions
Morning Call story on the looming crisis in state and school employees’ pensions.
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More on PHEAA from the Guv
Governor calls PHEAA bonuses “outrageous” – Breaking News with The Patriot-News Sens. Jane Orie, R-Allegheny, and John Rafferty, R-Montgomery, reacted to the bonuses by saying they plan to…
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Feds receive request to toll I-80
Toll Roads News on the Application of the PA Turnpike Commission for tolling I-80 – featuring a copy of the actual application and some commentary including: The application…
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