Nathan Benefield

Nathan Benefield

Senior Vice President

Nathan (Nate) Benefield is the Senior Vice President at the Commonwealth Foundation.

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 31, 2007

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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Read More: Turnpike Commission Loves P3s

Campaign Finance Reform Gone Haywire

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 30, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: Campaign Finance Reform Gone Haywire

Investigation into Bonus-Gate heats up

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 30, 2007

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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Read More: Investigation into Bonus-Gate heats up

Public vs. Private: Rebuilding New Orleans

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 30, 2007

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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Read More: Public vs. Private: Rebuilding New Orleans

Ripping Off Taxpayers, Pennsylvania Style

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2007

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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Read More: Ripping Off Taxpayers, Pennsylvania Style

What Americans Think about Their Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2007

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: The SCHIP Open

Do the latest welfare numbers stack up?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 28, 2007

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 27, 2007

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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Read More: Pennsylvania Political War Over Planned Tolls on I-80

Occupational Licensing in the States

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 27, 2007

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 27, 2007

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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The Myth of Pre-K

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 26, 2007

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 26, 2007

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2007

I will be on Pennsylvania Newsmakers dicussing cyber school funding. Click here for TV listings this weekend and next week.

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Read More: Watch Benefield on Cyber School Funding

Rendell, Orie: Privatize PHEAA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2007

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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Read More: Rendell, Orie: Privatize PHEAA

More on PHEAA from the Guv

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2007

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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Read More: More on PHEAA from the Guv

Feds receive request to toll I-80

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2007

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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