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.”

Was Rendell’s “Turnpike Lease” a ruse?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 25, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: Was Rendell’s “Turnpike Lease” a ruse?

Success in Philadelphia

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 25, 2007

Wall Street Journal editorial on the success of the private managers in Philadelphia schools. See my Commentary on the issue.

Media

Read More: Success in Philadelphia

Will Rendell and Senate GOP sell out on transportation?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 23, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: Will Rendell and Senate GOP sell out on transportation?

School Enrollment vs. Staffing

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 23, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: School Enrollment vs. Staffing

Gut-and-Replace Tranportation Bill to Be voted on Monday

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 22, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: Gut-and-Replace Tranportation Bill to Be voted on Monday

Save up your quarters for I-79

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 21, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: Save up your quarters for I-79

Masch on “Irreparable Harm” by spending limits

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 21, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: Masch on “Irreparable Harm” by spending limits

Response to Critics of a Turnpike Lease

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 21, 2007

The Reason Foundation has a new version of their response to the leading criticisms (and questions) about a potential lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Media

Read More: Response to Critics of a Turnpike Lease

Senate Votes to Keep Ethanol Tariff

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 20, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: Senate Votes to Keep Ethanol Tariff

Rohrer proposes to limit prevailing wage

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 20, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: Rohrer proposes to limit prevailing wage

Commonwealth Foundation YouTubing

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 20, 2007

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.

Media

Read More: Commonwealth Foundation YouTubing

Turnpike proposes new funding plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 20, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: Turnpike proposes new funding plan

New, higher taxes and fees in Pa. transit fund plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 20, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: New, higher taxes and fees in Pa. transit fund plan

Giving small businesses options

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 19, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: Giving small businesses options

Protecting government agencies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 18, 2007

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…

Media

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Fumo wants to expand Turnpike Commission

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 18, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: Fumo wants to expand Turnpike Commission

Government’s Hedge Funds

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 18, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: Government’s Hedge Funds

School District Consolidation Report

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 15, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: School District Consolidation Report

Supreme Court Affirms 1st Amendment Rights of Teachers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 15, 2007

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…

Media

Read More: Supreme Court Affirms 1st Amendment Rights of Teachers