NathanBenefield
@NathanBenefield
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Chief Policy Officer at Commonwealth Foundation @MyCommonwealth Opinions my own
Harrisburg, PA
Joined September 2008
The carbon tax saga ends in Pennsylvania, for now https://t.co/qCOqGpAv16 via @thecentersquare
thecentersquare.com
(The Center Square) – After six long years, the fate of Pennsylvania’s entry into a multi-state emissions curbing program is settled.
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The conservative Commonwealth Foundation says in a statement that the budget expands the deficit, but wins on RGGI and permitting "will improve Pennsylvania’s economic outlook, says chief policy office Nathan Benefield.
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Unions spend big on politics — often at the expense of their members
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Gov. Shapiro Drops Cap-And-Trade Program As Spanberger Plans To Rejoin
forbes.com
Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-Pa) drops bid to join regional cap-and-trade program, while Gov-elect Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) looks to rejoin it.
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A new Commonwealth Foundation report says that four big public-worker unions spent more on elections and political causes in 2023-24 than on representing their members. https://t.co/qoRUaAXS23 via @WSJopinion
wsj.com
Do members of four large government-worker unions know where their wage deductions go?
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Pennsylvania Democrats concede to GOP on fossil fuel regulation as lawmakers look to end budget standoff https://t.co/u65k4xHVas via @dcexaminer
washingtonexaminer.com
The impasse hit state school budgets hard as public school administrators began to warn of the long-term impacts on district operations.
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🗓️ 135 days late. Today, PA became the last state in the nation to pass a budget—after @GovernorShapiro's partisan brinkmanship left the state in a de facto shutdown since July 1. At the signing ceremony, Shapiro heralded his leadership in "Getting Stuff Done" 🤣
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🚨🚨BREAKING: Despite Shapiro’s Failed Leadership, 2025-26 Budget Secures Key Permitting Wins, Ends Threat of RGGI https://t.co/aMXTmNWTp1
commonwealthfoundation.org
Despite Gov. Josh Shapiro’s failed leadership and a 135-day stalemate, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed a budget for the 2025–2026 fiscal year.
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What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 State Budget
commonwealthfoundation.org
Four months late, Gov. Shapiro and state lawmakers agreed to a state budget deal. The agreement spends $1.4 billion less than Gov. Shapiro’s reckless, extreme proposal, and uses excessive special...
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@MyCommonwealth Don’t forget: the Wolf Administration paid $400,000 to an advocacy group that joined a lobby effort for RGGI to then model RGGI and tell us that RGGI doesn’t actually reduce CO2 emissions; only 0.169% over 8 years. It was never about climate change.
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New York and New Jersey Have Lost $670 Billion of Income from Movers - Unleash Prosperity https://t.co/PWusGGorCv
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📆⌛️A Timeline of RGGI (Shapiro's Energy Tax): Oct. 2019 - Gov. Wolf enters RGGI Sept. 2020/Dec. 2021 - Legislature votes to withdraw from RGGI (bipartisan) Sept. 2020/Jan. 2022 - Wolf vetoes resolution April 2022 - Veto override fails by 1 vote Oct. 2022 - Candidate Shapiro
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@nytopinion @BCAppelbaum In reality: Shapiro is the least productive Pennsylvania governor in at least 50 years:
commonwealthfoundation.org
Summary Where is Governor Shapiro? How Productive is Shapiro? [1] Justin Sweitzer, “City & State’s 2025-26 Pennsylvania State Budget Tracker,” City & State, October 30, 2025, https://www.cityandsta...
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@nytopinion @BCAppelbaum Similarly, the piece claims Shapiro “pushed …to provide school vouchers to parents.” That’s another campaign pledge Shapiro has abandoned. He’s never proposed expanding educational choice in any of three budgets, he line-item vetoed funding for Lifeline Scholarships after
commonwealthfoundation.org
“He talks a good game,” said Gov. Josh Shapiro during his recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
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@nytopinion @BCAppelbaum While Shapiro campaigned on accelerating the cut to 4 percent by 2025, he never proposed that, much less delivered. In fact, his latest budget proposal included a $1 billion corporate tax increase (along with a multi-billion dollar deficit).
commonwealthfoundation.org
The governor proposes nearly $51.5 billion in general fund spending, an 8.1 percent increase over the 2024–25 enacted budget.
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The @nytopinion puff piece by @bcappelbaum claims Gov. Shapiro “delivered some high-profile wins for businesses, notably a cut in the state’s corporate tax rate.” https://t.co/hVqdDTUSjU He didn’t. That was signed by former Gov. Tom Wolf in 2022.
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Myth: ObamaCare subsidies are ending. Fact: The temporary COVID subsidies are ending by law, reverting back to standard ObamaCare subsidies. The expiring subsidies only count for 3.3% of total premium increases next year, and the average enrollee will pay $3 more per week.
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Democrats Irate Over Loss of Leverage https://t.co/qly7oWU3hW via @WSJopinion
wsj.com
Shouldn’t they pretend to be relieved that people will receive food stamps?
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