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.”
Congressmen warn Governor about Turnpike lease
From Capitolwire.com. Having criticized the Governor in my previous post, I will give him praise for dismissing the anti-market rhetoric of two Democratic Congressmen. HARRISBURG (May 16) –…
Media
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Stupid Voters!
After defeat of the Act 1 tax shift almost universally (the Patriot News identified only two districts that approved the shift, and one of those by a very tentative…
Media
Read More: Stupid Voters!Taxes & Economy
Lost Jobs, Lost Opportunities: The Reality of the Minimum Wage Hike
In 2006, Governor Ed Rendell argued that hiking Pennsylvania’s minimum wage by 39% would not lead to lost jobs and opportunities for low-wage workers. Unfortunately, Mr. Rendell has already been…
Commentary
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RendellCare on Life Support
Patriot News on the lack of enthusiasm, and action, on most of Rendell’s health care plan.
Media
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Forces build against leasing turnpike
Tom Barnes in the Post-Gazette on the line-up of opposition to a proposed Turnpike Lease – though all the opposition he names are lobbyists hired by the Turnpike Commission…
Media
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SCHIP Crowds out Private Insurance
A new CBO report on SCHIP (government-run health insurance for kids, recently expanded in PA under Governor Rendell’s “Cover All Kids”) remarks that government health insurance creates dramatic “crowd…
Media
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Attacking Cyber Schools
AP story in PhillyBurbs.com on the attacks on Cyber School funding. There are several highly misleading statements. The article asserts that the school boards association and the teachers’ union…
Media
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School Tax Referendums
The Philadelphia Inquirer is the first PA newspaper that I have seen to endorse a “Yes” vote on the Act 1 tax shift (I have seen several endorsing a…
Media
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More Turnpike Lease Distortions
The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association (PMTA) issued a news release claiming that voters overwhelming disapprove a Turnpike lease and citing exorbitant toll increases in Indiana. While elected officials should…
Media
Read More: More Turnpike Lease Distortions
GrowPA: Agitate for Change
GrowPA.com, an interactive website promoting pro-growth policies, limited government, and government reform (chaired by fromer Lt. Governor and Commonwealth Foundation Board Member Bill Scranton) has launched today – featuring…
Media
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State Money Spent To Lobby State Officials
Ben Simmoneau for WGAL on the use of state money to lobby for more state money – specifically highlighting PHEAA and the Turnpike Commission, but taxpayer-funded lobbying included state…
Media
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P3s could build Mon-Fayette Expressway
Private firms are being asked to enter bids to develop and run the Mon-Fayette Expressway: see Tribune-Review and Post-Gazette coverage. Using Public-Private Partnerships for new construction is one…
Media
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Who are the judges?
For those of you who are neither lawyers or criminals and are looking for more info about the judicial candidates before next Tuesday’s primary, here are various surveys/voter guides.
Media
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Cost and Size of General Assembly debated
Brad Bumsted on the Speaker’s Reform Commission hearing on reducing the size of the legislature. While an NCSL analyst testified to the fact that Pennsylvania has the 2nd…
Media
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Ethanol Gold Rush Carries Costs
The rush to mandate and subsidize ethanol may turn out to be fools gold, from NCPA: Last year, about 4.9 billion gallons of ethanol were produced. Within…
Media
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Education vouchers: Free to choose, and learn
Economist.com article on the benefits of school choice, both for students receiving vouchers and for those remaining in public schools. This augments the Friedman Foundation report showing…
Media
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Expanding School Choice in PA
Rep. Civera proposes increasing the cap on Educational Improvement Tax Credits to $109 million. This announcment nearly coincides with a report finding that the EITC saved taxpayers nearly…
Media
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Budget Bill Introduced
The bill for the General Fund budget, House Bill 1286, was introduced without fanfare yesterday. There is no spreadsheet summary yet, but I was told it is not different…
Media
Read More: Budget Bill Introduced
Strike possible as talks break off
Patriot-News on a looming teacher strike in the Annville-Cleona district. Visit Stop Teachers Strikes, Inc for salary info on Annville-Cleono salary, and how we can end teacher strikes…
Media
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Will tax-relief promise ring hollow again?- PennLive.com
Brett Lieberman in the Patriot News on the Act 1 Tax Shift: “Until you address the spending side, you will never address real relief,” said Matthew J. Brouillette,…
Media
Read More: Will tax-relief promise ring hollow again?- PennLive.com
Everything you need to know about Act 1
Tony Phyrillas says: “If you don’t spend much time at the Commonwealth Foundation’s Web site, shame on you”. This in reference to our Policy Point on Act 1.
Media
Read More: Everything you need to know about Act 1