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.”
Bonus recipients gave heavily to campaigns
More gasoline on the legislative bonuses fire, from Public Radio Capitol News.
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A heaping helping of handouts
Post-Gazette piece on a whole host of corporate welfare grants.
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Significant Tax Increase for Pennsylvania
The Tax Foundation assesses Governor Rendell’s plans to raise a host of taxes in Pennylvania.
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State judge pay system worse than legislative bonuses.
From Capitolwire.com (subscription): Ditzen also wrote: “For all the controversy surrounding Act 44, I have not heard anyone argue that the salary linkage for state judges to the federal…
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Taxpayers could bear cost of pension plans’ ‘noncrisis’
Rick Dreyfuss’s latest commentary in Sunday’s Patriot-News.
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Saying No To Teacher Strikes
The Evening Bulletin covers efforts to stop teacher strikes in PA, focusing on the efforts of Simon Campbell at Stop Teacher Strikes, Inc.
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The Case Against Smoking Bans
Thomas A Lambert in Regulation Magazine on the Case Against Smoking Bans in “public places.”…
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Rendell pushes health plan
Lancaster Intelligencer Journal article on RendellCare. After quoting my commentary on Rendell’s misdiagnosis of the problem, the article then quotes Rendell saying: “‘It’s important for the Legislature to…
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Rendell’s Energy Plan
From Capitolwire.com: By Christopher LilienthalStaff ReporterCapitolwire HARRISBURG (Feb. 1) – Gov. Ed Rendell outlined an energy independence strategy Thursday that calls for the creation of an $850…
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More on Legislative Bonuses
The Patriot News adds up the total legislative bonuses to $3.6 million over the last 2 years ($1.8 million from the Democratic caucus in 2006). Meanwhile, Bob Jubelirer defends…
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Time for another Rendell tax proposal
From the bad idea factory in Harrisburg comes another proposal for a tax increase to fund another misguided government program. This time, Governor Rendell proposes increasing electricity taxes by $850…
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Justice on Trial
The Commonwealth Foundation is co-sponsoring with Democracy Rising Pennsylvania and several other reform groups a survey of judicial candidates.
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Jubelirer’s ex-chief got $95,000 settlement package
More on the bonuses (and severance pay) paid to top legislator staffers from Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. It seems that looking through Jubelirer’s financial reports is like…
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Senate leaders disclosed over $363K in bonuses
After last weeks disclosure that several unnamed PA Democratic House staffers were getting taxpayer-paid bonuses for undisclosed activities, the Senate GOP had decided to end their practice of bonuses…
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How Much Are Public School Teachers Paid?
A report from the Manhattan Institute examines teacher pay across the nation, taking on the common claim that teachers are underpaid. Generally, author Jay Greene finds that teachers earn…
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Patriot News on Taxpayer Protection Act
The Patriot News has a short story on the Taxpayer Protection Act in their Inside the Capitol segment, unfortunately leading with “A proposed cap on state spending didn’t…
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Bush’s Health Plan
NCPA policy briefs on the Bush Health Plan and answering the Critics of the Bush Plan.
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Proposal would cap state spending
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article on the proposed Taxpayer Protection Act. Note that the union-backed Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center is already advancing the myths of spending limits. Look for…
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Milton Friedman Special
In honor of Milton Friedman Day PBS station will be airing the special The Power of Choice on Friedman’s life and influence. Unfortunately the blasphemers at WITF Harrisburg…
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Ethanol Makes Gasoline Costlier, Dirtier
Analysis of the effect of ethanol subsidies and mandates from the Cato Institute.
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Push to privatize turnpike reflects shift in thinking
Post-Gazette article on a potential turnpike lease. Geoff Segal of the Reason Foundation and adjunct scholar with Commonwealth Foundation (incorrectly identified with Reason magazine) scoffs at the fear of…
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