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.”

Two against 48

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 20, 2007

Dimitri Vassilaros column in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Senators Eichelberger and Folmer (the two in the 2 vs. 48) who voted against the budget. Vassilaros also discussesthe intricacies of state…

Media

Read More: Two against 48

Another Anti-Cyber Assault by School Boards

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 19, 2007

School boards continue to attack public cyber schools and call for limiting their spending (you never hear anyone calling for school districts to limit their spending) in the Pittsburgh…

Media

Read More: Another Anti-Cyber Assault by School Boards

State flunks in financial disclosure

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 19, 2007

Brett Lieberman in the Patriot News on Pennsylvania’s failing grade for disclosure of public official’s financial interests The full report is here. The disclosure documents for the…

Media

Read More: State flunks in financial disclosure

The Best States For Business

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 18, 2007

This is about a week old, but Forbes’ lastest Best States For Business ranks PA near the bottom, coming in at 39 this year. I’m sure with the Film…

Media

Read More: The Best States For Business

Edifice Complex Charts and Resources

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 18, 2007

Below are charts, source data, and statistical results results (as promised) from our report Edifice Complex: Where Has All the Money Gone Charts used at News Conference (PDF)…

Media

Read More: Edifice Complex Charts and Resources

Turnpike Wheeling and Dealing

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 18, 2007

Brad Bumsted’s assessment of the Turnpike Commission’s deal to expand their power and protect their fiefdom. The Turnpike Commission may have gotten enough House votes for their borrowing and…

Media

Read More: Turnpike Wheeling and Dealing

Milton Friedman Resolution Passes!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 17, 2007

Without drawing much attention, given all the attention going to the state budget and the transportation funding plan, we scored a legislative victory of sorts. Late last night…

Media

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Edifice Complex at Central Dauphin?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 17, 2007

Yesterday we released a report titled The Edifice Complex, which looks at school district spending (as well as contrasting that with cyber schools), finding that school districts suffer from…

Media

Read More: Edifice Complex at Central Dauphin?

Changing the rules

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 16, 2007

We’ve been called out on GrassrootsPA for “trying to re-write the rules at the end of the process. But I thinkeveryone can see the shell game…

Media

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Eichelberger Speaks Out on Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 16, 2007

Senator Eichelberger’s floor statement on why he could not support the budget. (Eichelberger was one of only two “no” votes in the Senate, joining Senator Folmer).

Media

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Budget Line Items Revealed

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 15, 2007

The budget deal was reported from conference committee tonight (the deal had already been worked out behind the scenes, the conference committee just reported what was handed to them).

Media

Read More: Budget Line Items Revealed

Closed doors & capitulation

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 15, 2007

Brad Bumsted on why conservatives and reformers are upset about the budget deal: The deal occured behind closed doors. All the rank and file members were excluded, and what…

Media

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Min. Wage, Jobs, and Unemployment

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 15, 2007

In his Weekly Newsletter, Gov. Rendell takes credit for “improving the lives” of workers who received a minimum wage increase. In it the Governor note: “Pennsylvania’s…

Media

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Tolling I-80

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 14, 2007

Here is the link to the letter from US DOT to Sen. Madigan we refenced in our letter to the Governor and lamwakers on the legality and merits…

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Idiot Vs. Crazy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 13, 2007

Pennsyltucky Politics asks, “Is it worse to be called an idiot (Matt Brouillette) or crazy (Eric Epstein)?” Current poll results indicate a tight race.

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Read More: Idiot Vs. Crazy

Morning Call on Energy Plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 13, 2007

Christina Gostomski from the Morning Call on how Gov. Rendell’s energy plan could end up being financed by higher gross receipts taxes, once electricity rates go up.

Media

Read More: Morning Call on Energy Plan

Celebrate the Good Half

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 13, 2007

Lowman Henry’s Commentary gets me thinking how much we really need to enact a Taxpayer Protection Act. As much as we have criticized the budget deal, it…

Media

Read More: Celebrate the Good Half

Legislator Voting with Leader Record

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 12, 2007

Democracy Rising PA has put together spreadsheets looking at the percentage that both freshmen and veteran state legislators voted with their party leader on non-unanimous votes. It…

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Read More: Legislator Voting with Leader Record