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.”
Regulation
More money spent on gambling; still none received
Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review with more about the tranfer of funds to run the Gaming Control Board. Apparently, Gov. Rendell and budget Sec. Michael Masch plan to…
Media
Read More: More money spent on gambling; still none receivedHealth Care
Judge overturns Wal-Mart law
AP Story on the overturning of Maryland’s “Wal-Mart” Health Care law. This law would have required all businesses with 10,000 or more workers to spend at least 8% of…
Media
Read More: Judge overturns Wal-Mart lawGovernment Accountability
Database to Monitor Spending?
US Senators Tom Coburn and Jeff Flake have proposed a database tracking all recipients of federal grants (see Cato Institute analysis). Like many of you, I would enjoy easy…
Media
Read More: Database to Monitor Spending?Government Accountability
Is it 1994 all over again?
Former Congressman George Nethercutt in today’s Wall Street Journal on the fall election. He essentially argues that the party that does better is the party that offers the most…
Media
Read More: Is it 1994 all over again?Regulation
What are the odds? Pa. gaming board running out of money
Legalized gambling, once thought to be the cash cow for property tax reform, can’t even fund it own board. See the PennLive.com NewsFlash…
Media
Read More: What are the odds? Pa. gaming board running out of moneyRegulation
Steering Online Gamblers Toward State Lotteries
Jacob Sullum of the Reason Foundation wonders why some members of Congress are pushing for tougher measures banning online gambling while supporting state lotteries and casinos. The answer is…
Media
Read More: Steering Online Gamblers Toward State LotteriesTaxes & Economy
Cost of Government Day
Americans for Tax Reform released their Cost of Government Day Report yesterday, which was coincidently the national Cost of Government Day. This represents the day in which American earned…
Media
Read More: Cost of Government DayPublic Union Democracy
Ending Teacher Strikes?
Rep. Will Gabig has introduced legislation to curb teacher strikes (working with Simon Campbell of Stop Teacher Strikes Inc.) Check out the Courier Times Coverage. Read Simon’s recent…
Media
Read More: Ending Teacher Strikes?Taxes & Economy
Stocking up on tax dollars
Meadville Tribune editorial on how the state is spending the “windfall” surplus instead of returning it to taxpayers.
Media
Read More: Stocking up on tax dollarsGovernment Accountability
Mere Coincidence
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on the six-figure government job awarded to Joseph Hoeffel – who earlier this year dropped out of the Lt. Gov. race after a meeting with Governor…
Media
Read More: Mere Coincidence
Property Tax “Reform” and Referendum
Read my letter to the editor in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer. Also note the conclusion reached by the Allentown Morning Call editorial on the recent property tax “relief:”…
Media
Read More: Property Tax “Reform” and ReferendumRegulation
Senate acts to cut back a few perks
As reported in the Patriot News, the state Senate plans to force Senators to contribute to their health care plans (possibly 1% of salary) and reduce the money available…
Media
Read More: Senate acts to cut back a few perksState Budget
Governor Rendell’s Sense of Irony
On the anniversary of the 2005 pay raise, Governor Rendell will be handing out pork in the Capitol … non-metaphorical pork in this case. From News Release: HARRISBURG…
Media
Read More: Governor Rendell’s Sense of IronyRegulation
Want to braid hair? Talk to Big Brother.
Despite not having time to address lobbyist reform during the past few weeks, the General Assembly was able to pass a myriad of minor bills, including one (SB 707)…
Media
Read More: Want to braid hair? Talk to Big Brother.Taxes & Economy
Wal-Mart Tax Fizzle
Wall Street Journal article on how the “Wal-Mart tax” push is failing in almost every state. Read our analysis of why the Wal-Mart tax is bad for Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Wal-Mart Tax FizzleState Budget
Budget Coverage
Some press coverage of the late night/early morning state budget deal: Herald Standard (Commonwealth Foundation quoted)Pittsburgh TribPost Gazette (Commonwealth Foundation quoted)Philadelphia Inquirer (Commonwealth…
Media
Read More: Budget Coverage
Platinum Parachutes
Read the John Kennedy’s latest commentary in today’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Media
Read More: Platinum ParachutesState Budget
Rendell: Budget Could Be Worse
Governor Rendell names states who will be increasing their budgets faster than PA. Ironically, his list is identical to our list of “States we least want to emulate.” From…
Media
Read More: Rendell: Budget Could Be WorseEducation
Preschool Algebra
From Governor Rendell’s News Release: “An independent study by a renowned firm confirms that more than 160,000 students in 48 Pennsylvania schools are benefiting from investments in early childhood…
Media
Read More: Preschool AlgebraRegulation
Senators vs. Pork
Not a game between minor league baseball teams, but three State Senators (Jane Orie, R-Allison Park, Pat Vance, R-Silver Spring Twp, and Pat Browne, R-Allentown) trying to Shift Focus…
Media
Read More: Senators vs. PorkEducation
For School Equality, Try Mobility
How “funding the child” would provide greater school equity and choice – by Rod Paige in today’s New York Times.
Media
Read More: For School Equality, Try Mobility