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.”
Was Rendell’s “Turnpike Lease” a ruse?
Brad Bumstead believes that Governor Rendell’s proposal to lease the Turnpike was all part of a conspiracy theory to make the Turnpike Commission’s proposal to expand its authorities, raise…
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Read More: Was Rendell’s “Turnpike Lease” a ruse?
Success in Philadelphia
Wall Street Journal editorial on the success of the private managers in Philadelphia schools. See my Commentary on the issue.
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Will Rendell and Senate GOP sell out on transportation?
Capitolwire.com reports that Governor Rendell, and possibly Senate Republicans, will go along with House Democrats plan to toll I-80 and raise Turnpike tolls, and have higher local taxes…
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Read More: Will Rendell and Senate GOP sell out on transportation?
School Enrollment vs. Staffing
A reader requested more info about some data in our Fat Facts of the Week on public school staff vs. enrollment. Here is the latest data from the…
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Gut-and-Replace Tranportation Bill to Be voted on Monday
Post-Gazette on the House Democrats Transportation plan (also see Philadelphia Inquirer story) – done by gutting and replacing existing legislation. The proposal to get more money from taxpayers…
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Save up your quarters for I-79
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on the House GOP plan to turn interstates 78, 79, 80, 81 and 95 into toll roads. Further, to place those roads under control of the Turnpike…
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Read More: Save up your quarters for I-79
Masch on “Irreparable Harm” by spending limits
Budget Secretary Michael Masch issued a news release decrying all the “vital services” that would be cut, had the state implement spending limits in past years. Masch’s demagoguery obscures…
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Response to Critics of a Turnpike Lease
The Reason Foundation has a new version of their response to the leading criticisms (and questions) about a potential lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
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Read More: Response to Critics of a Turnpike Lease
Senate Votes to Keep Ethanol Tariff
Andy Roth of The Club For Growth on a US Senate vote to keep a tariff on ethanol imports. If lawmakers believe ethanol is good for the environment (the…
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Rohrer proposes to limit prevailing wage
Rep. Sam Rohrer has introduced legislation to eliminate prevailing wage limitations on road and bridge construction. Click here for more on the cost of prevailing wage laws for…
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Commonwealth Foundation YouTubing
We are now on YouTube! Visit the Commonwealth Foundation’s YouTube Channel for our latest videos; we will be adding more from past events soon.
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Turnpike proposes new funding plan
The Turnpike Commission modified their plan for new funding for roads – eliminating the “congestion tax”, but still proposing:– New Bonds tied to the gas tax– Turnpike…
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New, higher taxes and fees in Pa. transit fund plan
Dwight Evans and other House Democrats apparently have their own plan for funding transportation, which includes: Certificate of vehicle title, now $22.50, would increase by $6.50, to $29…
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Giving small businesses options
Reps. DePasquale (D) and Mackereth (R) introduced legislation allowing small businesses to pool resources into association plans to provide health insurance to employees. This is one of the…
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The Oil Tax: Gross results
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on the Oil Company Gross Profits Tax.
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Protecting government agencies
Today state House Democratic lawmakers unveil legislation to protect taxpayers government agencies and workers unions. Among the legislation they propose would be to “require any employee terminated due to…
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Fumo wants to expand Turnpike Commission
To the suprise of no oneVince Fumo has supported the plan of the Turnpike Commission to expand their authority – raising tolls, taking over (and tolling) I-80, and issuing…
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Government’s Hedge Funds
Capitolwire.com’s Pete DeCoursey (subscription) calls Governor Rendell’s corporate welfare proposals for what they are – a hedge fund. Talking about Rendell’s proposed Jonas Salk Legacy Fund and alternative energy…
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Read More: Government’s Hedge Funds
School District Consolidation Report
The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) issued their report on the fiscal benefits of consolidating school districts. Their findings were that districts with 2,500 to 3,000 spend somewhat…
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Read More: School District Consolidation Report
Supreme Court Affirms 1st Amendment Rights of Teachers
The US Supreme Court ruled today that states could require unions to get their members consent to use their dues for political purposes. Previously, a lower court had ruled that…
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Read More: Supreme Court Affirms 1st Amendment Rights of Teachers
Lancaster New Era endorses Taxpayer Protection Act
Lancaster New Era (registration required) editorial supporting the Taxpayer Protection Act, along with the Commonwealth Foundation’s Diet Plan.
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Read More: Lancaster New Era endorses Taxpayer Protection Act