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.”
Education
Has School Choice Crossed the Rubicon?
Clint Bolick argues yes in today’s Wall Street Journal. Even Democratic leaders (including Sen. Ted Kennedy and our own Governor Rendell) have signed on to school choice programs (albeit…
Media
Read More: Has School Choice Crossed the Rubicon?Education
School Tax Hikes in Allegheny County
Interesting article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about property tax hikes. Twenty of 43 school districts in Allegheny are planning to raise tax rates. Their justification is that the county…
Media
Read More: School Tax Hikes in Allegheny County
The Real Candidates For Office
Read Grant Gulibon’s latest commentary in The Evening Bulletin.
Media
Read More: The Real Candidates For OfficeGovernment Accountability
Taxpayers spending over $1 million on lawyers to defend pay raise
As first broken by the Philadelphia Inquirer: “”Do I like hiring lawyers to defend these kinds of suits? No, I hate to do this,” said House Majority Leader Sam…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers spending over $1 million on lawyers to defend pay raisePublic Union Democracy
Your Tax Dollars at Work
Fine tribute to public sector unions, paid for with your tax dollars. I guess we were wrong to identify the Historical and Museum Commission as an example of pork…
Media
Read More: Your Tax Dollars at WorkTaxes & Economy
Does faux reform kill real reform?
Brad Bumstead in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on the likelihood that significant property tax relief is dead following the passage of the facade of reform passed Wednesday. Read our News…
Media
Read More: Does faux reform kill real reform?Health Care
Reduce Health Insurance Cost Through Competition
NCPA Analysis of how allowing insurers to offer healthcare coverage across state boundaries would reduce the cost of insurance. Examining only a handful of states, they find a discrepancy…
Media
Read More: Reduce Health Insurance Cost Through CompetitionTaxes & Economy
Decoding the Swann Property Tax Plan
The property tax relief plan introduced by gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann last month offers a radically different approach to the problem. Swann’s proposal contains some good provisions, some flawed provisions,…
Commentary
Read More: Decoding the Swann Property Tax PlanTaxes & Economy
FEMA funds spent on divorce, sex change
AP story on fraud in FEMA aid – as much as $1.4 Billion (16% of all FEMA aid for Katrina and Rita victims) may have been used improperly. My…
Media
Read More: FEMA funds spent on divorce, sex changeEducation
Arrogant PHEAA: More stonewalling
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial review on how the public agency PHEAA refuses to disclose how they spend their money. Hence we propose privatizing PHEAA in our Pennsylvania Piglet…
Media
Read More: Arrogant PHEAA: More stonewallingState Budget
Cut (half) the Waste!
Williamsport Sun-Gazette editorial on the Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006.
Media
Read More: Cut (half) the Waste!Taxes & Economy
The More You Know … The More You Wish You Didn’t
How does a $56,000 salary sound? Not bad? What if that salary was for working on a political campaign? Still better? Now imagine that salary was for your 2nd job,…
Media
Read More: The More You Know … The More You Wish You Didn’tRegulation
Lawmaker Pensions too generous
Coverage of lawmaker pensions (and our Pension Study) in The York Daily Record.
Media
Read More: Lawmaker Pensions too generousTaxes & Economy
Tax Dollars Spent on PR
The Patriot News reports on how your tax dollars are working hard to fund the public relations campaigns of legislative leaders – namely House Speaker Perzel spending $5,000/month on…
Media
Read More: Tax Dollars Spent on PRRegulation
Nice Pensions for Lawmakers
Coverage of lawmakers’ pensions in the Chambersburg Public Opinion and Lebanon Daily News.
Media
Read More: Nice Pensions for LawmakersState Budget
When Fish is Really Pork
A press release from the PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) attempts to justify the Fish Fund as a core function of government. However, we maintain our assertion…
Media
Read More: When Fish is Really PorkPublic Union Democracy
Unions and Politics
A couple of very good reads on teacher unions and education in the Summer 2006 Education Next. In Strike Phobia, Frederick Hess and Marty West look at the…
Media
Read More: Unions and PoliticsGovernment Accountability
Reform Needed in PA
Mike Folmer on the primary and the need for reform in Pennsylvania in today’s Wall Street Journal.
Media
Read More: Reform Needed in PA
Piglet Book Coverage
Coverage of the Piglet Book in the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice, the Scranton Times-Tribune, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette…
Media
Read More: Piglet Book CoverageState Budget
Piglet Book Coverage
Coverage of the Pennsylvania Piglet Book in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Download the full Piglet Book here.
Media
Read More: Piglet Book CoverageState Budget
Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006
The Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006 is the joint effort of the Commonwealth Foundation and Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) to make the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania aware of…
Report
Read More: Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006