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.”
Survey of Attitudes on Taxes
The Tax Foundation’s latest survey of attitudes towards taxes came out today. The results will shock you. The number of people saying taxes are “too low” doubled since last…
Media
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Pennsylvania needs a spending limit
Press Enterprise Editorial on the Taxpayer Protection Act.
Media
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Grand jury to probe Pa. bonuses
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that there will be a grand jury investigating whether bonuses to legislative staffers were illegally tied to campaign work.
Media
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Gov. Blames Lawmakers For Property Tax Troubles
Governor Rendell is blaming lawmakers for the lack of any property tax relief, in a WGAL Story (though his is losing the WGAL blame poll badly) . Rendell isn’t…
Media
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Ending Teacher Strikes
Bucks County Courier Times on the difference between Sen. Mellow’s binding arbitration bill and Simon Campbell’s proposals (both designed to end teacher strikes). Rep. Steil has converted to Campbell’s…
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Show Me the Spending
ShowMeTheSpending.org, a new website from Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, Citizens Against Government Waste, and National Taxpayers Union, is pushing for a…
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Björn Borg, Come Home
Wall Street Journal article on how Sweden is abolishing their “wealth tax”, after driving the rich from the country (including Borg and ABBA).
Media
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Turnpike boss opposes proposed merger with PennDOT
Post Gazette story on PA Turnpike chief Joseph Brimmeier opposing Sen. Jane Orie’s plan to put the Turnpike under PennDOT control. This would shock no one. And while the…
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Commission on State Government Pay Proposed
Rep. Ron Marsico is proposing a commission to examine compensation of state officials. Now while proposing a commission doesn’t seem controversial, consider that in nearly two years since the…
Media
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Would you be a winner?
Patriot News article on the May tax shifting referendum under Act 1. The shift to an income tax creates winners as loser, though the article identifies LLC firms as…
Media
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Is RendellCare good medicine?
Three articles in the NE PA Business Journal on Governor Rendell’s health care proposals, all featuring the Commonwealth Foundation’s Rick Dreyfuss. Is Gov. Rendell’s ‘Prescription for Pennsylvania’ Good Medicine?:…
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Are we all “supply-siders” now?
I saw this Bruce Barltett editorial in the NY Times over the weekend. Bartlett makes the intriguing argument that politicians no longer need to claim to believe in “supply-side”…
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Passing the buck on Act 1 tax hikes
The Reading Eagle with more on using exemptions to avoid referendum on property tax hikes. A number of lawmakers are trying to defend the ineffective law they created: Rep.
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Congressmen get inferior health coverage
Morning Call article on former state lawmakers elected to Congress, but staying on the state health plan. Why? State lawmakers – even retired lawmakers – get better benefits and…
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Prospering In Pennsylvania
Are Pennsylvania’s workers worse off than they were three decades ago? A report prepared by the labor union-backed Keystone Research Center claims they are. Their data indicate that average real…
Commentary
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Pittsburgh 2nd in population loss
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Census data showing that the Pittsburgh region ranks 2nd in the nation in total population loss from 2000-2006 (behind only the New Orleans region).
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210 districts can raise taxes without votes
Martha Raffaele of the AP reports that 210 school districts will be allowed to increase property taxesabove their index (which ranges from 3.4 to 5.5%, depending on the…
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Taxpayer Protection Act attacked
Following the announcement of legislation to create a Taxpayer Protection Act and the unveiling of a website with information on the legislation, the Allentown Morning Call has already…
Media
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PA GOP education plan
PA House GOP leader Sam Smith, along with a number of state representatives unveiled an alternate planto Governor Rendell’s education budget proposals – get the Patriot News story here…
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More Turnpike News
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on the draw of investors to a Turnpike lease. They also heavily quote Turnpike Commission vice chairman Tim Carson (who they also identify as a bond lawyer,…
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Push for private transportation deals
Coverage of Governor Rendell’s press conference pushing for public-private partnerships and a Turnpike Lease in transportation in the Post-Gazette. Also speaking for P3s were US Secretary of Transportation Mary…
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