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.”
Taxes & Economy
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).
Media
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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…
Media
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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…
Media
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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,…
Media
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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…
Media
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PA Tax Burden Up Again
The Tax Foundation’s latest data on state and local tax burdens was released today I have been citing their data (to the consternation of the pro-government spending advocates) in…
Media
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The Health Care Debate
The Times Tribune offers contrasting articles on universal health care proposals in PA and elsewhere and on consumer-driven health care.
Media
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Pike lease idea gets mileage in Legislature
Charlie Thompson writes in the Patriot News that legislators are starting to put some thought into the potential of a Turnpike lease. The Commonwealth Foundation has a number of…
Media
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Scrutiny of the bounty in Harrisburg
John Micek of The Morning Call on the use of taxpayer funds for inauguration parties.
Media
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Politics of Turnpike Lease
Stateline.org article dealing with public opinion and organized special interest opposition to leasing toll roads.
Media
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Taxpayer Protection Act Introduced
Senator Regola news release on the introduction of the Taxpayer Protection Act in legislation. Read the Commonwealth Foundation’s news release on protecting the taxpayer.
Media
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Mass Transit P3s
A new example of how competitive contracting for mass transit services can work is the recent Houston partnership for four bus lines. More examples can be found in…
Media
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Underpaid Public Servants?
Jan Murphy of the Patriot News provides an analysis of the highest paying jobs in state government. A total of 3,042 employees on the state payroll earn over $100,000…
Media
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Why are people uninsured?
CAHI brief looks at why people are uninsured and what policies can reduce the number of uninsured. These include individual tax credits, limited benefit plans, eliminating mandatory benefits, allowing…
Media
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Pork Goes to War
New York Times editorial by Tom Schatz of CAGW on the pork included in the “emergency” bill for troop funding. Included in the list of pork is…
Media
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Later Tax Freedom Day
The Tax Foundation released their annual Tax Freedom Day® Report yesterday. The bad news: it will take Pennsylvanians 117 days to pay off their taxes, making our Tax Freedom…
Media
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Perzel v. Benefield on Turnpike
Speaker Emeritus Perzel thinks we should add more taxpayer-backed debt to fund road repairs, while I argue that a Turnpike lease is better than the bevy of tolls and debt…
Media
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Exception turns into rule for property tax increases
So much for protecting property taxpayers. The Patriot-News looks at the numbe of districts applying for exemptions to Act 1. Turns out 210 of the 501 school districts have…
Media
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Duquesne law professor under fire
Duquesne law professor Bruce Ledewitz (website) has been a harsh critic of the PA court system, including criticizing the Supreme Court ruling to reinstate their own pay-raise, and…
Media
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