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.”
Taxes & Economy
Tougher emissions rule in PA?
FAQ about the news proposed standards and its effects.Coverage of the standards and the decision making process.
Media
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Are Pennsylvania kids too fat?
A report released last from the Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Families addresses our state strategy in taking on childhood obesity. Most of the report lists the ways state…
Media
Read More: Are Pennsylvania kids too fat?Public Union Democracy
What to do About the Transportation Crisis?
The Pennsylvania Transportation and Funding Reform Commission is currently holding hearings on the funding “crisis” in transportation. From 1995-96 to 2005-06, while inflation increased 28%, transportation spending in the state…
Commentary
Read More: What to do About the Transportation Crisis?Government Accountability
Judicial Pay After Court Ruling
Here is what PA judges will make following the court ruling reinstating the judicial pay raise: http://mail.comfdnprod.wpengine.com/judgespay.pdf…
Media
Read More: Judicial Pay After Court RulingPublic Union Democracy
Forced speech atrocity
Dimitri Vassilaros column in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about the Washington state lawsuit on whether unions can use mandatory dues for political activity, without consent of the dues paying member.
Media
Read More: Forced speech atrocityState Budget
“Pork” database passed
Reuters Story on the passage of legislation that would create a new web database of all pork barrel grants. Hopefully transparency is but the first step in reducing wasteful…
Media
Read More: “Pork” database passedGovernment Accountability
Judicial pay raise outrage
WHP CBS21 coverage of the pay raise ruling, featuring video of our very own Matthew Brouillette talking with angry callers.
Media
Read More: Judicial pay raise outrageGovernment Accountability
Summary of Supreme Court Ruling on Pay Raise
The PA Supreme Court Opinion on the pay raise, issued today (view the last two pages for the Conclusion) makes the following decisions: 1) The repeal (Act 72 of…
Media
Read More: Summary of Supreme Court Ruling on Pay RaiseGovernment Accountability
Pay Raise is Back
The Patriot News reports that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reinstated last July’s pay raise, for judges–a ruling which raises the pay of the Supreme Court Justices. The ruling also…
Media
Read More: Pay Raise is BackTaxes & Economy
Wal-Mart and Chicago
Following Chicago Major Daley’s 1st ever veto, the city council is reconsidering the law they passed requiring “Big Box Retailers” to pay a “living wage” and benefits. Investor’s Business…
Media
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Privatize Amtrak
In the wake of some discussion on the GrassrootsPA comments section on whether we need to keep subsidizing Amtrak with tax dollars, I thought these analyses would be useful…
Media
Read More: Privatize AmtrakState Budget
Earmark Showdown
Wall Street Journal article on a couple of bills expected to come up in Congress this week that would address pork barrel spending. While these bills wouldn’t reduce spending,…
Media
Read More: Earmark ShowdownTaxes & Economy
Why are people rich?
A study, summarized by NCPA, takes on the critics of free markets, with some common sense finding. While some on the left insist that “the rich are getting richer…
Media
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Philly-to-Harrisburg on high-speed rail
From PennLive.com NewsFlash: Harrisburg to Philly on high speed trains? Cool.Trains at 110 miles per hour? Neat.Only an hour and a half from HAR to PHL? Ok.
Media
Read More: Philly-to-Harrisburg on high-speed railTaxes & Economy
Rendell Looks to Raise Taxes on Oil Companies in Pennsylvania
From The Tax Foundation.
Media
Read More: Rendell Looks to Raise Taxes on Oil Companies in PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Property Tax Relief that Isn’t
The new property tax “relief” plan, Act 1, is already taking heat for not providing much relief – even for senior citizens, the group targetted for immediate relief – based…
Media
Read More: Property Tax Relief that Isn’tWelfare
PA lagging in Welfare to Work
Pennsylvania is among a handful of states that need to improve the number of welfare recipients working, the AP reports. Under new federal law, states are required to have…
Media
Read More: PA lagging in Welfare to WorkRegulation
Hair Braiding Drama
Patriot News article on the fear of unlicensed hair-braiders vs. the danger in regulatory professions (though they emphasize the former). Read Stephen Albert’s commentary on the burdens of…
Media
Read More: Hair Braiding DramaHealth Care
Will Mandatory Health Insurance Work?
NCPA Analysis of Health Insurance Mandates, such as the new Massachusetts law and proposals discussed at recent hearings in Pennsylvania. Bottom line: they won’t work, and they could drive…
Media
Read More: Will Mandatory Health Insurance Work?Government Accountability
The real meaning of ‘reform’
Brad Bumsted column in Sunday’s Pittsburgh Tribune Review on the need for legislative reform. He cites the recent Commonwealth Foundation study on reforms needed.
Media
Read More: The real meaning of ‘reform’Taxes & Economy
Incomes and Politics
Wall Street Journal article on income disparity and inconsistent political rhetoric.
Media
Read More: Incomes and Politics