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.”

Scarnati submits op-ed by Turnpike Commission

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 2, 2007

Frothing at the mouth, President Pro-Tem Joe Scarnati cites the “evil foreign company” argument as to why he won’t allow consideration of a Turnpike lease (even though several…

Media

Read More: Scarnati submits op-ed by Turnpike Commission

Last Chance to Learn About Judges

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 2, 2007

Here are surveys/info about the judges up for election and retention: Democracy Rising Judicial SurveyPennsylvania Family Institute Voters’ Guide PA League of Women’s Voters Voters’…

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Read More: Last Chance to Learn About Judges

Why we blog

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2007

Nicholas Carr thinks Greg Mankiw should stop blogging. His rationale is the economic concept of “comparative advantage” – that is, Greg Mankiw is a brilliant economist and should…

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Read More: Why we blog

For-Profit Philly Schools show math gains

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2007

A new study finds that for-profit school management led to math test score gains in Philadelphia (News Release and AP Story): “The impact of for-profit…

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More on Free Markets v. Socialized Medicine

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2007

In response to the criticisms of cancer survival statistics used in a Giuliani ad, David Grazter has defended his statistic and provides additional data about survival rates…

Media

Read More: More on Free Markets v. Socialized Medicine

Peterson Calls on Turnpike Commission to Pull False, Toll-Funded Ads

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2007

Congressman Peterson calls on the Turnpike Commission to stop buying ads using toll revenue, that he calls a “misleading, disingenuous toll-paid media campaign, promoting the tolling of Interstate 80”.

Media

Read More: Peterson Calls on Turnpike Commission to Pull False, Toll-Funded Ads

Another Great Milton Friedman Video

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 31, 2007

In this 30 minute video, Friedman explains why he is a “liberal,” not a “conservative; what is wrong with minimum wage laws (and why they are used to discriminate);…

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Read More: Another Great Milton Friedman Video

Audit: Management of Pa. business grants was lax

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 31, 2007

More criticism of the lack of monitoring, accountability, and compliance with laws in the state’s corporate welfare programs, this time from the Auditor’s office. Click here for the AP…

Media

Read More: Audit: Management of Pa. business grants was lax

Open Records Bills Updates

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 31, 2007

Jamie Blaine at PassOpenRecords.org on the House and Senate open records bills. UPDATE: Details of the Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition (PaFOIC) and PA Newspaper Association Forum…

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Read More: Open Records Bills Updates

Government Health Insurance Kills

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 31, 2007

Somebody needs to fact check FactCheck, like me. The group FactCheck.org issued a “fact check” on an ad by Rudy Giuliani comparing health care in the UK and…

Media

Read More: Government Health Insurance Kills

Great Milton Friedman Video

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 30, 2007

In 2 minutes, Milton Friedman explains the errors of socialism, the benefits of free markets, and public choice theory, all while making Donahue look silly. HT: The…

Media

Read More: Great Milton Friedman Video

Pension Resources

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 30, 2007

As you may have heard, Rep Scott Boyd introduced a pension reform bill (News Release) – based on some of our recommendations and research. More information and resources: Rep…

Media

Read More: Pension Resources

Which schools are “Dropout Factories”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 30, 2007

ABC 27 Harrisburg, ABC 6 Philadelphia, Carlisle Sentinel, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Philadelphia Daily News and others have all had stories about “Dropout Factories” – i.e. schools…

Media

Read More: Which schools are “Dropout Factories”?

Critics say open records bill not open enough

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 30, 2007

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on the Senate open records bill and its many weaknesses, in light of improvements we support: Common Cause/Pennsylvania Executive Director Barry Kauffman called the…

Media

Read More: Critics say open records bill not open enough

No I-80 Tolls = Less money for SEPTA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 29, 2007

The Turnpike Commission posted a summary of Lease and Funding agreement for tolling I-80. Not too much new here except for one major inconsistency … $300 million shall be…

Media

Read More: No I-80 Tolls = Less money for SEPTA

Big Government draws Lobbyist Gifts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 29, 2007

In another exposé of how Harrisburg works, Peter Jackson of the AP looks at the lobbyist spending and gift-giving. Why all the money ? Health care lobbyists want to…

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Read More: Big Government draws Lobbyist Gifts

What do Liberals and Conservatives like?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 29, 2007

Patrick Ruffini’s blog does an analysis of Facebook data to determine what conservatives, liberals, and moderates enjoy: Radiohead Republicans … There just aren’t that many of them…

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Read More: What do Liberals and Conservatives like?

AP: Corporate Welfare Doesn’t Work

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 29, 2007

Marc Levy of the AP with analysis of taxpayer subsidized businesses and job growth in Pennsylvania: To date, the Rendell administration has offered $1.7 billion in aid through…

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Read More: AP: Corporate Welfare Doesn’t Work

Imbeciles against WAMs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 28, 2007

Yet another article on corporate welfare programs, by Rick Fellinger in Chambersburg Public Opinion, this one focusing on WAMs. In spite of Johnna Pro’s claim “there’s no such…

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Read More: Imbeciles against WAMs

Political hacks give bad policy advice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 27, 2007

Dick Morris offers the opinion that President Bush should sign the SCHIP expansion. Why? Because is a smaller version of socialized medicine than “Hillary Care” and will “take the…

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Read More: Political hacks give bad policy advice