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

Taxing Oil

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 1, 2006

A “windfall” tax on “big oil” will only reduce the supply of oil and increase the cost of gasoline, writes Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist Colin McKnickle. It is a shame,…

Media

Read More: Taxing Oil

Taxes & Economy

Why a windfall tax is bad policy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 25, 2006

Should the federal government create a new tax on profits only for oil companies, as Governor Rendell suggests? This “windfall tax” esentially ensures a limit on the amount of…

Media

Read More: Why a windfall tax is bad policy

Taxes & Economy

Tax Freedom Day in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 24, 2006

Happy Tax Freedom Day, Pennsylvania! If you are looking for a reason to celebrate, you need look no further than Tax Freedom Day.

Commentary

Read More: Tax Freedom Day in Pennsylvania

Education

New Report on High School Graduation

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 19, 2006

A new report from the Manhattan Institute, released today, attempts to calculate real (as opposed to reported) high school graduation rates, using a consistent methodology across states. They found…

Media

Read More: New Report on High School Graduation

Regulation

Corporate Welfare No Boon for Philadelphia Job Market

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 19, 2006

Despite receiving large corporate "welfare checks" to spur job growth in manufacturing and technology, the Philadelphia region still lags behind other areas of the Commonwealth in employment. The region has…

Commentary

Read More: Corporate Welfare No Boon for Philadelphia Job Market

Taxes & Economy

New, Better Property Tax Relief Proposal – Media Coverage

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 12, 2006

Patriot News “Breaking News” coverage of our Property Tax Relief Scholarship proposal. Get our press release, or download our Policy Brief for more details and district-specific property…

Media

Read More: New, Better Property Tax Relief Proposal – Media Coverage

The Property Tax Relief Scholarship Act

  • Matthew Brouillette, Nathan Benefield
  • April 12, 2006

To date, the school property tax discussion in Pennsylvania has narrowly focused on the revenue side of the equation, without addressing the spending side of the ledger. This has led…

Fact Sheet

Read More: The Property Tax Relief Scholarship Act

Taxes & Economy

Governor Rendell: The Era of Big Government is Just Beginning

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 10, 2006

Two Gems from Governor Rendell in The Scranton Times-Tribune: “Rendell says voters have a clear choice between a candidate who talks of cutting taxes and limiting spending – Swann…

Media

Read More: Governor Rendell: The Era of Big Government is Just Beginning

State Budget

Are they really “Fake” Republicans?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 10, 2006

OpinionJournal – John Fund on the Trail: “‘The Republican Party is now principally moderate, if not liberal’ on spending, Mr. Specter told reporters after a majority of GOP senators…

Media

Read More: Are they really “Fake” Republicans?

State Budget

CAGW Pig Book: $29 BIllion in Pork in 2006

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 6, 2006

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) released their annual Pig Book yesterday, which indentifies $29 billion of pork-spending (defined as requests by members of Congress for special projects) in the…

Media

Read More: CAGW Pig Book: $29 BIllion in Pork in 2006

Education

PHEAA says receipts would reveal secrets

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 5, 2006

PHEAA refuses to disclose what they are spending their money on, the Patriot News reports, citing “trade secrets.” Far be it from me to suggest that taxpayers and…

Media

Read More: PHEAA says receipts would reveal secrets

Government Accountability

TV Coverage of Commonwealth Foundation at PLC

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 31, 2006

If you won’t be able to attend the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference, you will still be able to catch it all live on PCN – Pennsylvania Cable Network, starting…

Media

Read More: TV Coverage of Commonwealth Foundation at PLC

Taxes & Economy

PA Personal Income Growth Still Lagging Behind

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 28, 2006

Release from the BEA this morning on State Personal Income 2005. Pennsylvania ranked 37th in personal income growth in 2005, not as low as past years, but below the…

Media

Read More: PA Personal Income Growth Still Lagging Behind

Taxes & Economy

Wages of Politics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 28, 2006

Wall Street Journal on the minimum wage.

Media

Read More: Wages of Politics

Regulation

War on Wal-Mart coming to PA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 28, 2006

From the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Best quote: “Wal-Mart is trying to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.” Those heathens, trying to compete against unionized stores.

Media

Read More: War on Wal-Mart coming to PA

Regulation

Pay Raise and Pensions Linked

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 27, 2006

Coverage of the pay raise and pension link from Centre Daily Times, citing Rick Dreyfuss and our pension study.

Media

Read More: Pay Raise and Pensions Linked

Taxes & Economy

Abuse of Eminent Domain

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 23, 2006

Harrisburg Airport continues its quest to use eminent domain to take over a nearby competitor, according to the Patriot News. The Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) is trying…

Media

Read More: Abuse of Eminent Domain

Taxes & Economy

Minimum wage push continues

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 17, 2006

From The Morning Call Online: “Kate Philips, Rendell’s spokeswoman, said the administration is grateful the bill emerged from the committee, but that $6.25 ”barely keeps us competitive” with…

Media

Read More: Minimum wage push continues

State Budget

Easiest Way to Cut Pork

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 10, 2006

Five US Senators, in a letter to President Bush, ask him to cut down on earmarked spending (i.e. pork barrel projects) simply by not spending the money. They claim…

Media

Read More: Easiest Way to Cut Pork