Nathan Benefield

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.”

Education

Bevy of School Choice Articles/Research

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 1, 2008

A number of articles came across my email and blog reader, and I decided to put them all into one post. The Philadelphia Bulletin has a write-up…

Media

Read More: Bevy of School Choice Articles/Research

Health Care

Health Care Affordability Debated

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 30, 2008

Today’s health care hearing, at which Commonwealth Foundation Senior Fellow Rick Dreyfuss testified, will be airing on PCN tonight; check here for future airings. The York Dispatch also did…

Media

Read More: Health Care Affordability Debated

Government Accountability

Fumo: fighting to keep slavery outlawed

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 30, 2008

State Senator Vince Fumo said Tuesday that “If we introduced a bill on slavery, it might pass …I know some people up here, especially on a secret ballot, it would…

Media

Read More: Fumo: fighting to keep slavery outlawed

Education

Edifice Complex Video

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 30, 2008

Here is the video from yesterday’s lucheon on public school spending and cyber schools. (The Commonwealth Foundation report referenced can be found here.) Visit EdificeComplex.org for…

Media

Read More: Edifice Complex Video

Regulation

House Committee Votes to Increase Pensions/Property Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 30, 2008

The House State Government Committee passed a Pension COLA bill – AP Story here – which would require a dramatic increase in spending (on top of the expected higher…

Media

Read More: House Committee Votes to Increase Pensions/Property Taxes

Regulation

Two opportunities to shrink state government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 29, 2008

Williamsport SunGazette on the deliver on the promise of smaller government by privatizing the Turnpike Commmission and the Liquor Control Board. Also read Matt Brouillette’s commentary on those…

Media

Read More: Two opportunities to shrink state government

Regulation

Smoke Freedom Day II

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 29, 2008

CBS 21 has a video of “Smoke Freedom Day” protest in Harrisburg. That’s me in the video, absorbing second-hand smoke to make a political statement, like Sam Adams.

Media

Read More: Smoke Freedom Day II

Taxes & Economy

Federal Stimulus Rebate Calculator

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 29, 2008

Since federal “stimulus” tax rebates will start going out electronically this week (and checks will be mailed in the next few weeks), I thought I’d repost this calculator for…

Media

Read More: Federal Stimulus Rebate Calculator

Education

A Primer on Pennsylvania Cyber Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 28, 2008

Executive Summary An increasing number of parents are choosing Pennsylvania’s cyber charter schools for their children every year. Between 2001 and 2006, enrollment grew from 1,848 to almost 16,000 students.

Fact Sheet

Read More: A Primer on Pennsylvania Cyber Schools

Education

Tails. You’re Fired!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 28, 2008

Most everyone know that public school teachers get paid, tranfered, hired and fired in accordance with union-developed rules of seniority. But what happens when that seniority is equal? Answer:…

Media

Read More: Tails. You’re Fired!

Taxes & Economy

PA Leadership Conference Round-up

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 28, 2008

The PA Leadership Conference this past weekend was a great success. Of the keynote speakers, I thought Michael’s Steele gave the best (and funniest) spech (the videos will be…

Media

Read More: PA Leadership Conference Round-up

Taxes & Economy

Pittsburgh-area man arrested for complaining about government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 28, 2008

A Bridgeville man was arrested for harassment for doing too much complaining to, and about, his government officials. “In section 2709 of the Pennsylvania crimes code, dealing with…

Media

Read More: Pittsburgh-area man arrested for complaining about government

Taxes & Economy

The Truth About Oil and Gasoline

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 25, 2008

API has produced a nifty primer on oil, gasoline, and other energy sources. Among the interesting graphs: where does each dollar spent on gasoline go (pg 9 in the…

Media

Read More: The Truth About Oil and Gasoline

Taxes & Economy

State and Local Business Tax Report

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 25, 2008

The Council On State Taxation has released their 2008 summary of state and local business taxes, with the national picture, state-specific and industry-specific data. Click here for the summary…

Media

Read More: State and Local Business Tax Report

Education

President Bush Praises EITC

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 24, 2008

From the REACH Foundation: President Bush spoke about the need to make a good education for every child a national priority. The President then highlighted Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit…

Media

Read More: President Bush Praises EITC

Education

The Economics of College

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 24, 2008

Thomas Sowell has a three part (so far) series on Townhall.com on the economics of college: Part 1 covers the perverse incentives of taxpayer subsidies for college,Part…

Media

Read More: The Economics of College

Government Accountability

Show Me the Spending, PA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 24, 2008

Sen. Browne has introduced legislation that would create a free, online database of state spending (contracts and grants over $25,000) along with details about individual line items in the…

Media

Read More: Show Me the Spending, PA

Taxes & Economy

Election Reflection from Democracy Rising

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 23, 2008

Tim Potts over at Democracry Rising has an analysis of the election that features a roundup of results, (Grassroots PA has the full rundown), but also raises the…

Media

Read More: Election Reflection from Democracy Rising

Taxes & Economy

Tax Freedom Day: The Music Video

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 23, 2008

Here is a something a bit lighter for anyone with an election day hangover: Tax Freedom Day: The Music Video The national Tax Freedom Day is today, as calculated…

Media

Read More: Tax Freedom Day: The Music Video

Government Accountability

One of these people is going to be president

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 22, 2008

Jonathan Garthwaite points out that the three leading presidential candidates all made their last attempt to reach out to the “common man” in advance of today’s PA primary by…

Media

Read More: One of these people is going to be president