Nathan Benefield
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Nathan Benefield

Senior Vice President

Nathan (Nate) Benefield is the Senior Vice President at the Commonwealth Foundation.

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.”

Transit Funding Report

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2006

The PA Transportation Funding and Reform Commission released their final report today: among their recommendations are: $1.7 Billion Annually in New Funding ($900 million for state highways and bridges,…

Media

Read More: Transit Funding Report

General Assembly Leadership Elections

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2006

Even though John Perzel thinks the public should “keep out of something you don’t belong in” – as in leadership elections, here is some of the lastest info anyway.

Media

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Government Accountability

The Elections Big Winner: Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2006

Did voters reject Republicans and embrace Democrats in the 2006 elections? Of course; the gains in seats held by Democrats (both nationally and statewide) suggest they did. But the reasons…

Commentary

Read More: The Elections Big Winner: Reform

Club For Growth Survey of Voter Attitudes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 10, 2006

This is a must read survey of likely voters by The Club For Growth – particularly for those who think Republicans like Lincoln Chafee and Mike Dewine lost because…

Media

Read More: Club For Growth Survey of Voter Attitudes

Veon’s defeat shocks Democratic leaders

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 9, 2006

Post-Gazette Article on Mike Veon’s loss: “When you wanted money, you went to Mike, no matter what county you were from,” Beaver County Commissioners’ Chairman Dan Donatella said. But…

Media

Read More: Veon’s defeat shocks Democratic leaders

General Assembly Leadership Elections

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 9, 2006

The first vote for 55 new state legislators will be for their caucus leadership. Check out this Patriot News Article on what is shaping up to be quite a…

Media

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The Rendell Agenda

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 9, 2006

Patriot News article on Rendell’s outline of his second term agenda.

Media

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The election was a referendum on GOP failure

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 9, 2006

Wall Street Journal editorial analyzing the election results as well as the Democratic agenda – given that most of the freshmen are more moderate to conservative Democrats, whereas the…

Media

Read More: The election was a referendum on GOP failure

Congress and the Stock Market

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 7, 2006

A few financial analysts have attributed stock market gains of the past two days as speculation over the winners of today’s election. However, this study is worth a…

Media

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BREAKING NEWS

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 7, 2006

The first breaking news alert on this election day: Britney Spears files for divorce. I’m not even going to bother with the requisite joke.

Media

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Remove the stain

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 6, 2006

Post-Gazette Editorial calling for a special session on government reform.

Media

Read More: Remove the stain

Who “gets stuck in Iraq”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 3, 2006

Even though I may be the only person in America who believe John Kerry was attempting to call President Bush uneducated and stupid, not our troups (not that calling the…

Media

Read More: Who “gets stuck in Iraq”?

Many Kids Still Left Behind

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2006

A report released today by the Fordham Foundation takes a look at how well states are doing in terms of educating low-income and minority students. Pennsylvania gets pretty poor marks…

Media

Read More: Many Kids Still Left Behind

More coverage of government reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2006

More media coverage of yesterday’s release of the Reform Report Card: Chambersburg Public OpinionCarlisle SentinelBucks County Courier Times, featuring the gem: “Rendell spokeswoman Kate…

Media

Read More: More coverage of government reform

Failure to Reform State Government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2006

The Commonwealth Foundation joined with other good government reform groups to issue a Report Card on the Roadmap to Reform. Coverage of the Press Conference can be found…

Media

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School Uniform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2006

Clint Bolick editorial in today’s Wall Street Journal on lawsuits that would eliminate charter schools.

Media

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