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.”
Somewhat slimmer budget passes Senate Appropriations
Senate Appropriations Committee sent to the floor an amended budget which includes very few of the Governor’s new programs, cuts some of the corporate welfare from DCED, and promised…
Media
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Super-majority on tax increase legislation proposed
Senator Eichelberger (along with co-sponsors) today introduced legislation (SB 975) which would offer a Constitutional Amendment requiring a two-thirds vote in both chambers to pass any tax increase. This…
Media
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Taxpayer-Funded, Universal Preschool in Pennsylvania: Benefits Questioned
The push toward taxpayer-funded preschool for every child in Pennsylvania continues with Governor Rendell’s budget proposal for the 2007-08 fiscal year. The Governor wants $75 million for “Pre-K Counts,” which…
Fact Sheet
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Rendell shares Turnpike bid info with legislative leaders
Governor Rendell announced he has provided the expressions of interest regarding a potential Turnpike lease to legislative leaders, on the grounds they not be made public until a lease…
Media
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Healthcare For PA Families
House Republicans unveiled the outlines of a alternative health care reform plan, which they are calling the “Real Prescription for Pennsylvania” (their website name, Healthcare For PA Families, is…
Media
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When a spending increase is a spending decrease
Watch the video and more at PADietPlan.com…
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DeWeese Ends Bonuses
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that House Dem. Leader Bill DeWeese will end bonuses to staffers following scrutiny of past bonuses. In related news Rep. Glen Grell is proposing cuts…
Media
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Turnpike Commission’s proposal gains support
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that the proposal of the Turnpike Commission to raise tolls, enact special “congestion tolls,” take control of and toll I-80, and issue debt (tied to…
Media
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New rules force tally of retiree health costs
Post-Gazette story on new accounting rules requiring governments to report how much they owe for health care costs of retirees, with comments by CF senior fellow Rick Dreyfuss.
Media
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State Eminent Domain Report Card
One major success for individual rights in Harrisburg in recent years is Eminent Domain reform. The Castle Coalition’s Report Card on Eminent Domain Reform Legislation since Kelo, released this…
Media
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More Tax Money for Movies?
Do we need to spend more money to get movies made in PA? The Rendell administration is currently proposing giving filmmakers a 25 percent refundable tax credit (i.e. a grant)…
Media
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State pensions need realistic strategies
Good editorial in The Morning Call on reforming our state pension systems.
Media
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4 Bills In 5 Months
WGAL (NBC 8) with a story on the sluggish pace of the full time Pennsylvania legislature. So far this year, they have passed only 4 bills – two renaming…
Media
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What Taxpayers are buying Mark Cohen
Two Philadelphia Inquirer stories today highlight the use of tax money by Rep. Mark Cohen. The first details how he billed 3 weekends in N.Y. to taxpayers to attend…
Media
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MO’s Free-Market Health Care Reform
The state of Missouri has become to the first to enact a number of free-market reforms in health care – many of which are needed in Pennsylvania. This legislation:…
Media
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Open-Records Bill Strengthened
Sen. Pileggi has announced that he will amend his open records bills (SB1) to change the presumption – i.e. all government records will be considered public information unless specifically exempted…
Media
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Bill targets teacher strikes
Rep. Todd Rock will be introducing a bill that will ban teacher strikes and fine teachers for each day they strike illegally. This legistlation is supported by StopTeacherStrikes.org.
Media
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Public School Students Benefit from Private Managers
The Philadelphia School Reform Commission soon will be voting on a budget for the school district. Facing a projected budget deficit, the Commission is looking for ways to reduce costs,…
Commentary
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Rendell as Aragorn
Philadelphia Daily News compares Rendell to Aragorn (of the Lord of the Rings), in his speech to the SEPTA board: A day may come when the courage…
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Are raising prices a crime?
Wall Street Journal on the absurdity of legislation on “price gouging”. Not only have previous investigations over the pase few decades turned up few cases of price gouging, but…
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Make Your Own ‘Star Wars’
The greatest instance of using technology to give power to the masses since Guttenberg invented the printing press, George Lucas announced that clips from all the Star Wars movies…
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