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.”
Government Accountability
Campaign-Finance Breakdown
John Lott and Bradley Smith in the Wall Street Journal on taxpayer-financing of presidential elections: Since 1976, taxpayers have shelled out about $3 billion in current dollars to…
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Read More: Campaign-Finance BreakdownGovernment Accountability
Influence-Peddling
John Stossel on Townhall.com on the rhetoric against “special interests” and “corporate lobbyists” in Washington (also applicable to Harrisburg): None of the reforms gets near root of the…
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Read More: Influence-PeddlingTaxes & Economy
Turnpike Comission seeks private bidders to finish roads
With no sense of irony, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is adverstising for for “expressions of interest” from private firms interested in finishing and managining the Mon-Fayette Expressway and Findlay…
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Read More: Turnpike Comission seeks private bidders to finish roadsTaxes & Economy
Free analysis of costly Turnpike study
Toll Roads News offers some comments on the $75,000 taxpayer-funded “study” on a Turnpike lease. The Caucus report is in its nature hypothetical. It is based on…
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Read More: Free analysis of costly Turnpike studyTaxes & Economy
Did the PA min. wage increase cost jobs?
The PA Department of Labor and Industry released their report on the state minimum wage increase. As this Post-Gazette story indicated, the report doesn’t attempt to address what…
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Read More: Did the PA min. wage increase cost jobs?Public Union Democracy
Texas v. Ohio
Wall Street Journal article contrasts the economic fortunes between Texas (good) and Ohio (bad), and explores some of the reasons behind this – namely taxes (Texas=low, Ohio=high and increasing)…
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Read More: Texas v. OhioTaxes & Economy
NAFTA, Foreign Trade, and jobs
Cato’s Dan Griswold writes that “Ohio Needs More Foreign Trade” as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama denounce NAFTA in Ohio: Ohio workers would pay a heavy price for…
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Read More: NAFTA, Foreign Trade, and jobsRegulation
Union wants pension backing for roads
Financial Times article on public sector unions pushing for public pension funds to invest in roads and other infrastructure. Of course, as noted, many public pension funds (the California…
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Read More: Union wants pension backing for roadsTaxes & Economy
An Upside for the Middle Class
Interesting Washington Post article on the middle class: Items once considered luxuries — dishwashers, central air conditioning, video cameras — are now common. The average size of new…
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Read More: An Upside for the Middle ClassRegulation
How to Shrink an Economy
Penn State Altoona econ professor John McGinnis writes on how Pennsylvania’s “economic development” spending shrinks our economy – first by taxing to pay for this corporate welfare, then by…
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Read More: How to Shrink an EconomyGovernment Accountability
After returning raise, LaGrotta took it back
Another bizarre twist in the payraise debacle was uncovered in the Frank Lagrotta case. Former Rep. LaGrotta was recenlty convicted and sentenced, and more recently face a ruling that…
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Read More: After returning raise, LaGrotta took it backState Budget
PA Budget Historical Numbers
I’ve received a couple of requests for historics Pennsylvania state budget numbers, so I thought I’d post the data here. The figures represent actual final spending from 1970-2007, while…
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Read More: PA Budget Historical NumbersEducation
Empowering Families
Ken Blackwell commentary on the mistakes states are making by continuing to push for taxpayer-funded state-run preschool – to the detriment of educational choice and parental control.
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Read More: Empowering FamiliesTaxes & Economy
Daylight Saving Wastes Energy
A new study show that daylight savings time result in higher energy use, reports the Wall Street Journal, examing the effect of Indiana’s recent move to DST. Daylight Savings…
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Read More: Daylight Saving Wastes EnergyGovernment Accountability
RIP William F. Buckley
Roundup of obituaries, blogs, and other comments on conservative icon William F. Buckley Jr., who passed away at 82 today. National Review OnlineWashington Post ObituaryReason…
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Read More: RIP William F. BuckleyTaxes & Economy
Wages Are a Price, Too
A good chart of wages vs. inflation on the CARPE DIEM blog, along with a criticism of today’s Wall Street Journal article on inflation (and a humorous transposition…
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Read More: Wages Are a Price, Too
Act 1 Indexes
Allegheny Institute Blog looks at Act 1 “Indexes” for 2008 – the level each school district can increase property taxes without referendum, before exemptions are included. The complete list…
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Read More: Act 1 IndexesTaxes & Economy
Bio-Foolish Behavior
IBD Editorial on the lack of common sense in pushing for additional bio-fuel mandates and taxpayer subsidy: In 2005, America used 15% of its corn crop to replace…
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Read More: Bio-Foolish BehaviorPublic Union Democracy
Broad Based Coalition Supports Davis-Bacon Reform
News release from the Alliance for Worker Freedom on coalition of organizations (including the Commonwealth Foundation) supporting Davis-Bacon reform: According to James Sherk of the Heritage Foundation, “In…
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Read More: Broad Based Coalition Supports Davis-Bacon Reform
Turnpike Ad Campaign Opposes Lease Plan
KDKA TV story on the PA Turnpike’s use of toll revenue to fund a $300,000 advertising campaign to defends its fiefdom, while highlighting their excesses and recent…
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Read More: Turnpike Ad Campaign Opposes Lease Plan
Tolling I-80 or leasing the turnpike–how will we pay to fix our roads and bridges?
Video – Matt Brouillette vs. Joe Brimmeier (and other guests) on leasing the Turnpike and tolling I-80.
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Read More: Tolling I-80 or leasing the turnpike–how will we pay to fix our roads and bridges?