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.”

Taxes & Economy

Minimum Wages Politics vs. Economics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 25, 2006

The push for a minimum wage increase is going on in North Carolina as well as here in PA. A piece in the Raleigh News Observer looks at the…

Media

Read More: Minimum Wages Politics vs. Economics

Regulation

Govenment benefits for retirees grow into ‘monster’

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 25, 2006

An article in today’s USA TODAY points out that future unfunded liabilities for Medicare, Social Security, and govenment employees pensions and retirement benefits have grown to $57.8 trillion. To…

Media

Read More: Govenment benefits for retirees grow into ‘monster’

State Budget

Return the Windfall Profits

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 25, 2006

There is a massive organization imposing a financial burden on the Pennsylvania economy. It is consuming an ever larger portion of the average person’s income. The costs for what it…

Commentary

Read More: Return the Windfall Profits

Taxes & Economy

Government made bumper stickers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 24, 2006

The Pennsylvania Office of Tourism (part of the Department of Community and Economic Development) have started voting for a PA Bumper Sticker. Not only is developing an “official state…

Media

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Regulation

Perzel takes up state pension issue

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 22, 2006

House Speaker Perzel names a panel on state pension and retiree medical benefits to study the issues identified in the Commonwealth Foundation’s Pension Study. Perzel even suggests setting…

Media

Read More: Perzel takes up state pension issue

Taxes & Economy

PUC: Free market is OK

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 19, 2006

As reported in the Central Penn Business Journal, the Public Utility Commission will not stop a new taxicab company from competing with existing companies. It always heartwarming when a…

Media

Read More: PUC: Free market is OK

Eye of the Beholder

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 19, 2006

Tongue-in-cheek piece comparing California to Iraq (and media coverage of each) from The American Enterprise.

Media

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Taxes & Economy

For Now, Gasoline Is Our Only Cheap Fuel

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 12, 2006

Cato Commentary by Jerry Taylor: “Mandating a switch given current technology would increase, not decrease, pump prices.”…

Media

Read More: For Now, Gasoline Is Our Only Cheap Fuel

Government Accountability

Democracy vs incumbency

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 11, 2006

John Baer on the power of incubmency in the Philadelphia Daily News (citing Commonwealth Foundation data).

Media

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Education

Property Tax Relief through School Choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 11, 2006

Pennsylvanians deserve property tax reform and relief—not a shift and a sham. But the only way to relieve all homeowners while not burdening other taxpayers is to reduce public school…

Commentary

Read More: Property Tax Relief through School Choice

State Budget

Should American troops die for pork?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 9, 2006

A look at the $17 billion in Pork Spending added to the President’s request for funding of troops and Hurricane Katrina Relief from the Heritage Foundation.

Media

Read More: Should American troops die for pork?

Taxes & Economy

State Quashes Economic Freedom

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 9, 2006

The Pennsylvania State Department’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs release their list of disciplinary actions yesterday. Among the egregious violations were: auctioning without an auctioneers license, cutting hair…

Media

Read More: State Quashes Economic Freedom

Government Accountability

A Revolution in 2006?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 9, 2006

The 2006 primary election will serve as an important yardstick as to the lingering outrage in the electorate from the legislative pay raise on July 7, 2005 and failure to…

Commentary

Read More: A Revolution in 2006?

Education

65% Solution? Reduce School District Size

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 5, 2006

Analysis of school district spending by size by in the EIA Communique. The finding is that larger districts spend a lower percentage on classroom instruction (and more in adminstrative…

Media

Read More: 65% Solution? Reduce School District Size