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.”
Turnpike Politics
Post-Gazette article examines some of the patronage jobs handed out under the Turnpike Commission.
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Legislative Spending
Tribune Review article looks at the overall growth in the PA General Assembly’s budget, and the improvement of amenities for lawmakers. The Herald Standard points out that many…
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No more lawmaker graft?
Speaker O’Brien wants to end funding of members’ non-profits, the Post-Gazette reports. The opening line says it all: Legislators would no longer be able to quietly steer tax dollars…
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Selective School Choice
Clint Bolick Commentary in today’s WSJ on how the leading Democrat contenders think school choice should be limited to the rich (i.e. themselves).
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Spending Limits & the Budget
Budget Secretary Michael Masch had some interesting comments about government spending and the proposed Taxpayer Protection Act during yesterday’s Appropriation Committee hearing, courtesy of PLS Committee Summary (subscription):…
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PHEAA reveals spending records
After a lengthy legal battle, the Patriot News finally got some financial records from PHEAA, a state agency which had claimed to be exempt from open records laws. Though…
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Payoff to Big Labor
Rep. John Boehner on the union-led efforts to pass legislation that eliminate secret-ballot elections to unionize. Boehner misses the point when he compares union leaders to Hugo Chavez and…
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House Reform Group Issues Recommendations
Tracie Mauriello reports in the Post-Gazette on the reforms recommended by the PA House Reform Commission. Of course, since any recommendation had to be supported by 3/4ths of both…
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Army of Accountants?
When Governor Rendell proposed a new tax on oil profits, he claimed the cost “would not be passed on to consumers,” and that the Attorney General would have the power…
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Jackpot for Gambling Staff
WGAL’s Ben Simmoneau is reporting that Gaming Control Board Staff make hefty salaries, higher than most make in other state jobs. The Gaming Board tries to justify its higher…
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School Spending Data
The NCES released a report today titled An Historical Overview of Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education, by State: Fiscal Years 1990–2002. The full report is…
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Taking Oil Profits
If Governor Rendell is looking for another way to take more of oil companies’ profits, maybe he should look to Hugo Chavez, who announced the Venezuelan government would be…
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Show on the Road
Robert Poole of the Reason Foundation in today’s Wall Street Journal on the potential of public-private toll roads to revilatize our highway system.
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Welfare state growing
Associated Press story on the growth of Welfare rolls. While TANF cash grants have declined nationally under welfare reform, Medicaid and other programs have grown. Today, one in six…
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RomneyCare on Life Support
The Massachusetts healthcare mandates – dubbed RomneyCare after former Governor Mitt Romney – was supposed to ensure universal health insurance for all, save money on “uncompensated care,” and keep the…
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Private vs. Gov’t Response to Crisis
The News of Delaware County editorial poses an interesting question: “Would corporate America have handled last week’s Interstate 78 disaster any worse or better than Pennsylvania government officials?”…
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No reform of incumbent protection ads
Article on the Reform Panel’s debate on taxpayer-funded “Public Service Ads” (a.k.a. incumbent protection plans), from Capitolwire.com (subscription): Even after a former House majority leader blasted taxpayer-paid TV…
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Insurance mandates aren’t the answer
Greg Scandlen in Health Care News writes that health insurance mandates won’t solve the problem of uninsured. I also pointed out in that article that part of…
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Non-Union Jobs
Steve Jobs takes on the teachers unions, from WSJ.com.
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The Philadelphia Story
Paul Peterson in today’s Wall Street Journal on the success of privately-managed public schools in Philadelphia.
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Liquor system ripe for privatizing
Patriot News Editorial calls for privatizing of state liquor stores: “In proposing the turnpike lease, the governor has called the 537-mile highway an invaluable asset whose full value…
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