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.”
Taxes & Economy
Most I-80 toll revenue to be diverted from I-80
Though the Turnpike Commission unveiled their plan for capital improvements on I-80 (if they get approval to toll it), it remains the case that most of the revenue…
Media
Read More: Most I-80 toll revenue to be diverted from I-80Welfare
Welfare Reform: PA gets poor grades
The Heartland Institute has a new report, Welfare Reform after Ten Years: A State-by-State Analysis (for PDF version click here) ranking the states both on welfare outcomes –…
Media
Read More: Welfare Reform: PA gets poor gradesEducation
School Choice Works
American’s for Tax Reform has a short primer on the success of school vouchers, scholarship, and tax credit programs: There have been a total of ten studies of…
Media
Read More: School Choice Works
Lease I-80 and get facts about lease
Click here for our news release explaining why, if legislators insist on tolling Interstate 80, it should be competitively bid. Also, here is our video on the unveiling…
Media
Read More: Lease I-80 and get facts about leaseTaxes & Economy
Bush: Drill Now
President Bush will repeal the executive order banning offshore drilling. Of course, the executive order was superseded by a law banning offshore drilling, which Congress will have to…
Media
Read More: Bush: Drill NowGovernment Accountability
Why Turnpike Commission lobbying matters
A reader’s comments on our latest PikeTV video and reports on Turnpike lobbying argues that private bidders are also lobbying, and that tolling I-80 is “more fair” (i.e.
Media
Read More: Why Turnpike Commission lobbying mattersGovernment Accountability
Responses to Bonusgate
Following the bonusgate presentments (indictments), several lawmakers and newspapers are beginning to call for action to clean up state government. Sen Piccola will call for a special session on…
Media
Read More: Responses to BonusgateRegulation
Are tax-exempt bonds for stadiums legal?
The Tax Foundation points to to proposed changes in law by the IRS and Democrats in Congress that would prevent tax exempt bonds from being used for private sports…
Media
Read More: Are tax-exempt bonds for stadiums legal?Regulation
The Emperor Has No Clothes: The Truth about Secondhand Smoke
Short paper from the Heartland Institute (click here for PDF) on the science of second hand smoke – including the oft-repeated claim about the number of deaths due to…
Media
Read More: The Emperor Has No Clothes: The Truth about Secondhand SmokeEducation
For Autism, Try Vouchers, Not Mandates
John LaPlante points out on SPN Blog that instead of health care mandates, autism advocates should be pointing to tax credits or scholarships for autistic children. As opposed to…
Media
Read More: For Autism, Try Vouchers, Not MandatesPublic Union Democracy
Port Authority Labor Negotiations Online
The Pittsburgh Port Authority has a website detailing the sticking points of the labor negotiation with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85. I think the lesson to be…
Media
Read More: Port Authority Labor Negotiations OnlineTaxes & Economy
PA Gets Mediocre Grade on Economic Freedom
Not suprisingly, given other state rankings, Pennsylvania gets a mediocre grade on the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of North America report for 2008. PA ranks tied for 26th…
Media
Read More: PA Gets Mediocre Grade on Economic FreedomTaxes & Economy
Philly population declines – only New Orleans loses more residents
A Philadelphia Inquirer article looks at Philadelphia’s population decline from 2000-2007, in which the city lost 68,000 residents (continuing a downward trend). The Post-Gazette has a related article…
Media
Read More: Philly population declines – only New Orleans loses more residentsPublic Union Democracy
Alliance for Worker Freedom: AFL-CIO evading taxes
I’ve seen a few stories about the AFL-CIO using union dues to run ads against John McCain, and wondered a) why are compulsory union dues for explicit political activity…
Media
Read More: Alliance for Worker Freedom: AFL-CIO evading taxesRegulation
Banned!
Latest Drew Carey video for Reason.tv looks at the number of things – many of them absurd – that have been banned by governments out of the nanny…
Media
Read More: Banned!State Budget
Kanjorski Earmark Denied
The US Department of Transportation is refusing to fund an earmark put in place by Rep. Kanjorski. The earmark was intended to fund a parking garage near Kanjorski’s monument…
Media
Read More: Kanjorski Earmark DeniedTaxes & Economy
Family friendly reforms
The NCPA has a new Brief Analysis highlighting “Five Family Friendly Policies” -l abor, tax, and health care reforms providing greater freedom, flexibility, and portablity for workers and employers.
Media
Read More: Family friendly reforms
Rendell losing patience with turnpike commission
Post-Gazette reports that Governor Rendell is fed up with the Turnpike Commission’s stalling on their I-80 tolling application. He says he has been a nice guy about it,…
Media
Read More: Rendell losing patience with turnpike commissionEducation
Preschool Study: No Evidence of Lasting Benefits
Adam Schaeffer writes on Cato-at-liberty that a recent study of universal preschool only shows what critics of government-run day care have been saying: that they offer only short-term…
Media
Read More: Preschool Study: No Evidence of Lasting Benefits
Another toll-road myth demolished
The myth that governments can access cheaper infrastructure financing than the private sector – propogated by “Just Say No” Joe Markosek and his hired guns – has been…
Media
Read More: Another toll-road myth demolishedHealth Care
Is “universal health care” a religion?
Michael Cannon pulls a troubling quote from an advocate of SCHIP expansion, who admits his support is based on faith, not evidence. Of course Cannon is a well-known…
Media
Read More: Is “universal health care” a religion?