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.”
Budget Questions
Lingering questions/issues about the budget negotiations (with links to Commonwealth Foundation information on these issues): What will be the final percent increase in the General Fund? The Taxpayer Protection…
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More Debt for Pork?
According to reports, the House Democrats are holding up the budget negotiations for more $500 million in new bonds for “Redevelopment Assistance Capital Projects.” What the heck are those, you…
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A Letter To Ed
Letter from a soon-to-be furloughed state worker to Gov. Rendell, courtesy of PA Clean Sweep.
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Tax Impact of SCHIP Expansion
Last week I pointed out that Governor Rendell’s call for increased federal funding of SCHIP was because by passing “Cover All Kids”, the General Assembly created a program which…
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Public Schools Respond to School Choice
Post Gazette story on Regional Choice Initiative in Beaver County. This would allow students who want a particular class, not offered by their district, to enroll in that class…
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Pass it all NOW – Don’t think!
News release from the GovernorEditorial by the Post-Gazette calls for legislators to act on “reform” and pass a bunch of legislation in early July – unrelated to the budget…
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Some Definitions
“Ponzi scheme,” from Wikipedia Rendell Energy Plan, from the Governor’s office Note the striking similarities. Also read Jared Walczak’s commentary on Energy Depletion. Despite all of the…
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More Rendell Rhetoric
Governor’s latest news release: “Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians are without health insurance, roads and bridges are crumbling, public transit services are being cut and medical research facilities…
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Gov: “Spend it All!”
Central Penn Business Journal on Governor Rendell’s press conference:. Rendell said he is particularly disturbed by comments Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Gibson Armstrong (R-Lancaster and York counties)…
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Interest earned vs. interest paid
Geoff Segal on the Reason Foundation’s blog points to a counter of the interest earned by Indiana from privatizing the Indiana toll road – currently at $180 million,…
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Don’t bank on legality of I-80 tolls
Altoona Mirror advises lawmakers not to pass a plan that spends money from I-80 tolls, since getting I-80 tolls are questionable at best. From our News Release: “It…
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Spending Increases = Cuts
Rep. Tim Solobay issues the first press release calling spending increases “cuts” (though several House Democrats did so in the floor debate): “The Senate removed millions from education” –…
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Rendell’s Compromise: $3.7 billion in new spending
Gov. Rendell has been recently quoted naming all his “concessions” during budget negotiations. Even with “concessions” the Governor is still demanding $3.7 billion more in new taxes, fees/tolls, and debt…
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Budget Updates
Some stories on the state budget negotiations:Patriot NewsPost-GazetteInquirer/APAP on tolling I-80, quoting PennDot study from two years ago: “Based on the long…
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Senate votes to ban lame duck session
The state Senate voted to pass a Constitutional amendment, authored by Sen. Regola that would ban the “lame duck” session. One small step for reform.
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Higher Debt and tolls coming soon
Marc Levy of the AP reports that the Turnpike Commission’s Mike Long’s Vince Fumo’s “Senate compromise” plan to toll I-80, issue $4 billion in new debt, and increase Turnpike…
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Taxes on the Poor
NCPA report looks at how certain taxes disproportionately fall on low income holder – specifically taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and the most regressive of all, lottery/gambling. Funny how those…
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State looking at 6,000 retirees
Patriot News on the unusually high number of state workers set to retire this year. Perfect opportunity to reform the pension system.
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Legislature should vet numbers on leasing
The Patriot News calls on the Governor and lawmakers to “finish the script” and take bids for a Turnpike lease – even if it takes a little longer than…
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Rendell, GOP clash over kindergarten cash
Philadelphia Inquirer on the debate over state funded and controlled Preschool. Read our Policy Brief on the inflated benefits of universal preschool.
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Updates on the Budget Negotiations
The AP’s Marc Levy on the behind-the-scenes budget negotiations. Of particular interest is this: The House Republican leader, Sam Smith of Jefferson County, said that if budget negotiations…
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