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.”
Public Union Democracy
Why Maryland is fighting windmills.
A George Will piece (Getting mugged in Maryland), explaining why the Maryland legislature has decided to attack the paper tiger of Wal-Mart. Will cites Wal-Mart’s ample benefits and pay,…
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Read More: Why Maryland is fighting windmills.Regulation
Public Pensions Running Wild
A National Center for Policy Analysis summary of facts about state and local government pensions. The bottom line is that states continue to enhance benefits far beyond private sector…
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Read More: Public Pensions Running WildEducation
PSBA: “Limit School Spending for Cyber Schools”
The Pennsylvania School Board Association has finally come to agree that school spending should be limited to what it actually costs to educate a child: Patriot News – Districts…
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Read More: PSBA: “Limit School Spending for Cyber Schools”
Utah Man Wanted by Truth Police
An article appearing on ESPN.com – Why isn’t Jazz owner under fire? – argues that Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller should be penalized (fined, suspended or just chastised) for…
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Read More: Utah Man Wanted by Truth PoliceHealth Care
Maryland Senate seeks control over Wal-Mart
The Maryland Senate voted to override the governor’s veto of the “Wal-Mart Bill” (Financial News – Yahoo! Finance), so called because it applies only to one company in the…
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Read More: Maryland Senate seeks control over Wal-MartEducation
States Throwing Money at Higher Education
An analysis of state spending on higher education from The Chronicle of Higher Education shows that overall spending increases substantially outpaced inflation. While the article’s perspective (and the perspective…
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Read More: States Throwing Money at Higher EducationEducation
Are American Kids Stupid?
I love John Stossel reports – this Friday (on 20/20) he asks, “Are American Kids Stupid?” The answer, of course, is no, but our monopolistic public school system is.
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Read More: Are American Kids Stupid?Education
Rocky Mountain High
Denver enacts the nation’s first merit pay system for teachers in a large district. See this National Center for Policy Analysis summary of Denver’s new system and other pay…
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Read More: Rocky Mountain HighGovernment Accountability
Churches funding Pittsburgh
Several charities, including churches and religious groups, voluntary donated $4.6 million to the city of Pittsburgh, according to the Tribune-Review. Apparently the “separation of church and state” applies only…
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Read More: Churches funding PittsburghRegulation
More Corporate Welfare
Here is a good piece by the Allegheny Institute on the $50 million dollars of corporate welfare granted by state and local government to PNC for construction of…
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Read More: More Corporate WelfareTaxes & Economy
New Population Data
The US Census Bureau released their annual population estimates yesterday. Pennsylvania continues to lag behind: Pennsylvania’s population grew by 0.3% last year, slower than the national growth (0.9%) and…
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Read More: New Population DataEducation
Myths about Public Education
Here is short article summarizing a few of the debunked myths about public education spending: National Center for Policy Analysis – Five Myths About Education. For those still looking…
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Read More: Myths about Public EducationEducation
Court Bans Mention of Intelligent Design
The Dover Schools case has reached a conclusion: Judge bars the school district from mentioning ‘intelligent design.’ The lesson to take from this sage is that government run schools…
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Read More: Court Bans Mention of Intelligent DesignPublic Union Democracy
Teachers challenging union dues in California
California teachers have initiated a lawsuit against the two major teacher’s unions in that state over their rights: NRTW – December Foundation Action The Califonia Teacher Association and California…
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Read More: Teachers challenging union dues in CaliforniaWelfare
WSJ.com – Welfare for the Well-to-do
A Wall-Street Journal article detailing how many Medicaid recipients have worked the system to swindle taxpayers out of millions (and who is blocking reform):WSJ.com – Welfare for the Well-to-do.
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Read More: WSJ.com – Welfare for the Well-to-doTaxes & Economy
Privatizing Toll Roads
Good study on privatization of Toll Roads in USA Today, summarized by the National Center for Policy Analysis. It save taxpayers money and generates revenue for government. It will…
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Read More: Privatizing Toll RoadsWelfare
Privatization of Welfare Administration
An interesting study of how Texas is contracting out many technical aspects of their public assistance offices and streamlining the application process: NCPA Brief Analysis #539, A New Frontier…
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Federal Government Subsidizes AARP
The federal government subsidizes AARP to the tune of $80 million, according to HUMAN EVENTS ONLINE. What does AARP use the money for? Lobbying for, among other…
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Read More: Federal Government Subsidizes AARPTaxes & Economy
Help low wage workers by taking away their jobs?
From the National Center for Policy Analysis: In June 2004 Santa Fe became one of three cities in the United States to pass a city-wide minimum wage applying…
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Jesus doesn’t want you to shop at Wal-Mart
More hysteria from Wal-Mart critics – who have taken union dues to buy ads claiming the Bible commands us not to shop at Wall-Mart: Wal-Mart Critics: Where Would Jesus…
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Read More: Jesus doesn’t want you to shop at Wal-MartGovernment Accountability
Capital Gains Tax Reform Benefits Seniors, Pennsylvanians
The Tax Foundation released an analysis of federal capital gains and dividend taxes: The Tax Foundation – Majority of Seniors Benefit from Reduced Capital Gains and Dividend Tax Rates.
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Read More: Capital Gains Tax Reform Benefits Seniors, Pennsylvanians