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.”
Min. Wage, Jobs, and Unemployment
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…
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Tolling I-80
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
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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Morning Call on Energy Plan
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.
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Celebrate the Good Half
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…
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Legislator Voting with Leader Record
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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On Second Thought
Tony Phyrillas has reconsidered his earlier overly-rosy reading of the budget deal. He used our Good, Bad, and Ugly budget autopsy to back up his coversion, though…
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The TRUTH About Spending Increase
Before he called us imbeciles, Governor Rendell sent us (along with the PA Club for Growth) a letter calling for us to stop making statements about the…
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At Least We’re Not Cannibals
After we accurately pegged the tentative budget deal to a 5.3% increase, Gov. Rendell decides to call us imbeciles. As hurt as I was, I think we come…
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How the Pa. budget deal was sealed
Inquirer Story on how the budget deal was made. If you have a weak stomach, read how sausage is made, that won’t be as sickening as this. “You folded…
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Watchdog’s remark sends Rendell on a tear
Governor Rendell talking about Rock the Capital’s Eric Epstein to the Philadelphia Inquirer “Eric Epstein,” boiled Rendell, “is about as mentally stable as that guy who ate all…
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Why the Teachers’ Unions are backing Univeral Preschool
Seeking to Expand Ranks and Increase Salaries, Not Improve Education – from Human Events online…
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5.3% Increase, with No Tricks
Pete DeCoursey of Capitolwire.com tries to explain all the tricks that are being used to disguise the real agreed-to budget increase of 5.3%: Less than 16…
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Reader questions about budget
Questions from a PolicyBlog Reader: Q: What is this $1.6 billion dollar fund referenced in the Post-Gazette? It appears to be slots money which, I thought,…
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Oh yeah – the budget is higher
The agreed-to budget figure Gov. Rendell reported last night was lower. From Pennsylvania Legislative Services: GOVERNOR ANSWERS QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIABy Kimberly CollinsThis afternoon the…
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Lame Duck, or Big Winner?
Tony Phyrillas celebrates Rendell’s losses in the budget deal – too bad that doesn’t do taxpayers any good. Phyrillas likes the “no new taxes” – but new taxes…
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Economics of Smoking Bans
Some more resources on the economic impact of smoking bans, for legislators considering a smoking ban – see also our Policy Point on Smoking Bans: ECONOMIC LOSSES…
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Secondhand Smoke Facts
Some more resources on the scientific evidence of second hand smoke, for legislators considering a smoking ban – see also our Policy Point on Smoking Bans: Secondhand Smoke…
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Price of Candy is Up!
So I went to our office snack tray to buy an afternoon snack and notice that the price had gone up, and there was a note about the price of…
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Budget PR from PHMC
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission uses it taxpayer provided resources to blame the PA Senate for trying to “cut” programs from the budget (with an $899 million increase). Which…
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