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.”

Health Care

Health Insurance Mandate Update

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 8, 2008

Wall Street Journal op-ed by CAHI researchers on the cost of the 1,961 health insurance mandates. A health-insurance “mandate” is a legislative requirement that an insurance company or…

Media

Read More: Health Insurance Mandate Update

State Budget

New Borrowing + New Taxes = “Avoidance of Debt”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 8, 2008

In the Post-Gazette, Governor Rendell continues to argue that his insurance tax is a tax: Mr. Rendell strongly denies that the surcharge is a new tax. Instead,…

Media

Read More: New Borrowing + New Taxes = “Avoidance of Debt”

Taxes & Economy

Federal Stimulus=$300K per job

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 7, 2008

The Heritage Foundation Foundry Blog sums up the “economic stimulus” package just passed by the US Senate. OMB Director Jim Nussle (advocating in favor of the stimulus package),…

Media

Read More: Federal Stimulus=$300K per job

Taxes & Economy

Proposed PA Budget Details

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 7, 2008

For all the budget watchers and number-crunchers out there, here are some additional budget resources: Spreadsheet with all the line items from the proposed General Fund Budget (Microsoft Excel…

Media

Read More: Proposed PA Budget Details

Taxes & Economy

Are You Nuts Governor?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 7, 2008

Governor Ed Rendell goes ballistic on KDKA reporter Jon Delano, asking “Are you nuts, Jon? Are you nuts?” (watch the incredible Video Clip) Delano’s sanity is in question…

Media

Read More: Are You Nuts Governor?

Taxes & Economy

Change in plan to cut tax angers Pa. business owners

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 6, 2008

Governor Rendell’s budget calls for another slowdown of the Corporate Stock and Franchise Tax phaseout. While this isn’t technically a tax increase – rather represents less of a reduction…

Media

Read More: Change in plan to cut tax angers Pa. business owners

Health Care

Cover A Few Pennsylvanians update

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 6, 2008

A few weeks ago, we put out some quick facts about the few Pennsylvanians that would be covered by “Cover All Pennsylvanians.” Based on the new Governor’s budget, we…

Media

Read More: Cover A Few Pennsylvanians update

Government Accountability

Liberty Index released and GrassrootsPA relaunched

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 5, 2008

The Liberty Index, now produced by the Conservative Reform PAC was released today, rating all state legislators and Governor Rendell on legislation through the end 2007. Hat Tip…

Media

Read More: Liberty Index released and GrassrootsPA relaunched

Health Care

Rendell still pushing RendellCare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 5, 2008

Within the last few weeks, three state health care proposals fundamentally similar to Governor Rendell’s “Cover All Pennsylvanians” added to my “bad ideas pile” California legislators overwhelming rejected…

Media

Read More: Rendell still pushing RendellCare

Turnpike leasing gets another look

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 5, 2008

Editorial in the Lancaster New Era on a Turnpike lease takes to task the fearmongers opposing the idea: Are opponents skeptical, or fearful, of turning the turnpike over…

Media

Read More: Turnpike leasing gets another look

Regulation

Rendell’s Stimulus

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 5, 2008

Yesterday, Gov. Rendell announced his wealth redistribution scheme, which he calls “economic stimulus”. His plan includes Cash welfare payments: Rendell is proposing spending $130 million (borrowing it from the…

Media

Read More: Rendell’s Stimulus

Government Accountability

“Groundhog day” on Open Records

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 4, 2008

The Open Records bill (SB 1) is expected to be voted on in the House this week, after passing the Senate last week. See the press release from Common…

Media

Read More: “Groundhog day” on Open Records

Education

Budget Preview

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 4, 2008

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story previews Rendell’s budget proposal, including “Rebuilding Pennsylvania”, involving a three-year, $860 million ($287/year average) in new spending on infrastructure, mostly through new borrowing. He also promises…

Media

Read More: Budget Preview

Health Care

Equity and Health Care

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 4, 2008

Wall Street Journal editorial looks at reforming health care through the tax code. That is, giving individuals the same tax benefits in buying health insurance as employers, along with…

Media

Read More: Equity and Health Care

State Budget

Scarnati to Push Spending Limits?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 4, 2008

The Patriot News profiles Senate Pro Tem Joe Scarnati and it looks like he will be putting the Taxpayer Protection Act as a top priority, and even suggests…

Media

Read More: Scarnati to Push Spending Limits?

Regulation

Specter and the NFL

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 3, 2008

The response to news that Arlen Specter wants to hold hearing with the NFL over “spy-gate” has been met with universal disdain – see, for instance, Don Boudreaux’s…

Media

Read More: Specter and the NFL

Taxes & Economy

Climate Debate Daily

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2008

New website, Climate Debate Daily, features the latest updates on the debate over global warming – what is occuring, why it is occuring, and what to do about it…

Media

Read More: Climate Debate Daily

Taxes & Economy

Understanding the Laffer Curve

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2008

Center for Freedom and Propserity provides this video on the Laffer Curve. The key points are that 1)Most tax cuts spur economic growth and provide “feedback” tax revenue. 2)…

Media

Read More: Understanding the Laffer Curve

Education

Voucher foes hurt poor kids

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2008

Editorial in the Chicago Sun Times on President Bush’s “Pell Grants for Kids” and the unions’ mindless rhetoric denouncing school choice.

Media

Read More: Voucher foes hurt poor kids

Government Accountability

Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 1, 2008

This weekend, sports fans have the ineviable choice of rooting for Luke Skywalker or for Darth Vader in the Super Bowl. Yes, Luke is whiny and obnoxious (read: Eli Manning),…

Media

Read More: Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader