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.”
Turnpike plan makes leasing look good
The Post-Gazette has caught on to the benefits of a Turnpike Lease, at least contrasted with the Turnpike Commissions counter-proposal of more tolls on the Turnpike and on…
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Just who gets this check?
Morning Call article on semi-anonymous corporate welfare. After questioning the Rendell Adminstration about the recipients of an announced handout, the Morning Call was told they don’t give out that…
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Rendell pressing to lease turnpike
Governor Rendell almost sounds like Milton Friedman is his arguments for a Turnpike Lease in the Philadelphia Inquirer (well, not quite, but at least he recognizes the folly of…
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Republican RX
Wall Street Journal article on Sen. Tom Coburn’s free-market healthcare reform proposals. Mr. Coburn, like the White House, would remove the subsidy corporations get for health care, and…
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Pay-hike leaders’ hefty pensions
Brad Bumsted in the Tribune Review on the oversized pensions (after lump-sum payouts) of Bob Jubelirer and Chip Brightbill.
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Turnpike Unions Sued
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that 26 PA Turnpike Employees are suing the union (Teamsters Local 250) for witholding union dues, even after they requested to leave the union. In…
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PHEAA travel guidelines
Patriot News article on PHEAA’s consideration of new travel guidelines. PHEAA CEO Dick Willey adds: “The problem with buying bottles of wine is that they tend to add up.”…
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Is your governor a good-time Charlie?
That is the question posed by Stephen Moore as he discusses State Spending Sprees in the Wall Street Journal. The answer, if you are reading this in the Keystone…
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Governors health care plan assailed
Alison Hawkes in The Herald Standard on business groups responses to Governor Rendell’s universal healthcare plan. [Rendell healthcare spokeswoman] Kelchner said she can’t understand why business trade associations are…
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Leasing Toll Roads FAQ
Analysis by the Reason Foundation on the most frequently asked questions about leasing toll roads, along with addressing the most common rhetoric from critics.
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RomneyCare falls down slippery slope
New York Times reports on the how RomneyCare (as Massachusetts’ universal health care plan is known) continues to be worse than advertised. The board of the “Connector” which was…
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Subsidies backlash
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review makes note of how “economic development” grants to “create jobs” were in reality just money down the drain.
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Senator Proposes Term Limits
Coverage of yesterday’s Policies & Principles Forum in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. If you missed the event, you can get the video here.
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You may need $1 more for turnpike
More coverage of the Turnpike’s “public-public” partnership plan in the Patriot News, with a brief mention of Matt Brouillette’s testimony to the Senate Transportation Committee. Also read Geoff…
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The Turnpike Strikes Back
As a counter-proposal to lease, the Turnpike Commission proposes generating more revenue for transportation by: Putting Tolls on I-80 Putting “congestion tolls” on all Turnpike exits around Pittsburgh,…
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Rendell touts transportation plan
Post-Gazette coverage of Rendell’s “transportation tour”. Apparently, he is now looking specifically at a 30-year lease of the Turnpike.
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PHEAA spending splurge nears end
Jan Murphy of the Patriot News reports that PHEAA board members/legislators have promised to cut back on lavish expenses and act more like a “public agency.” Matt Brouillette points…
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Year of Tax Hikes
Stateline.org looks at proposed tax hikes in a number of states, including PA, calling 2007 “the year of tax hikes”. This is bad news for PA taxpayers, as past…
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The facade of legislative reform
Brad Bumsted on reform rhetoric vs. reality.
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PA’s Election Influence
While some have called for an earlier primary to “give Pennsylvania more influence” in Presidential nominations, PA’s influence is likely to decline for another reason — stagnant population growth. The…
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Leisure Inequality
Interesting point about inequality and redistribution policy: As you’ve probably heard, there’s been an explosion of inequality in the United States over the past four decades. The gap between…
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