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.”
“We’re Not the Commonwealth Foundation”
A report from the union-backed, socialist leaning (see note) Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center calls for enacting the Governor’s Proposed Oil Profits Tax, saying it is a good tax…
Media
Read More: “We’re Not the Commonwealth Foundation”
Jesus would back my plan, Rendell says
Ed Rendell cites the Holy Bible to support his government-run health care plan, reported in the Patriot News. He is referring to Matthew 22: 37-39 – Jesus replied:…
Media
Read More: Jesus would back my plan, Rendell says
Cato Report on Federal Aid to State
New report from Cato traces the growth of federal aid programs to state. That seems to contradict Governor Rendell’s statements on the budget about how we need higher…
Media
Read More: Cato Report on Federal Aid to State
The Poor Get Richer
Wall Street Journal on the growth in earnings and income of low-income families with children from 1991-2005. The CBO report identifies a few reasons for this, including: job…
Media
Read More: The Poor Get Richer
Perzel Turned Away From Budget Meeting
Capitolwire story on John Perzel’s quest to be included in the budget negotiations, see summary on GrassrootsPA.com. Three things about are troubling: 1) That John Perzel is trying to…
Media
Read More: Perzel Turned Away From Budget Meeting
Cost control is true tax reform
A very strong Press Enterprise editorial on real school tax reform – i.e. controlling costs: Enact a Taxpayer Protection Act that would limit increases in state spending to…
Media
Read More: Cost control is true tax reform
More of the same from Brookings
A new report from the Brookings Institution Restoring Prosperity: The State Role in Revitalizing America’s Older Industrial Cities repeats many of the same recommendations from multiple earlier reports (including…
Media
Read More: More of the same from Brookings
Who Killed Health Care?
American Spectator review of Regina Herzlinger’s book, Who Killed Health Care?: America’s $2 Trillion Medical Problem — and the Consumer-Driven Cure. Herzlinger concludes her book by outlining a…
Media
Read More: Who Killed Health Care?
Response to Congressional Bogeymen on Turnpike
Reason Foundation responds to a letter from two Congressmen advising states against toll road leases and promising to “”work to undo” any contract.
Media
Read More: Response to Congressional Bogeymen on Turnpike
PSBA Property Tax Reform Blueprint
The PSBA unveiled its Blueprint for Comprehensive Local Tax Reform, which has some good ideas, some misguided notions, and some bad ideas. The Good:1. Create a state funding…
Media
Read More: PSBA Property Tax Reform Blueprint
Turnpike Lease best option financially
Morgan Stanley’s preliminary report indicates that a private lease – depending on the conditions of the agreement – would fetch Pennsylvania a greater sum of money for transportation needs…
Media
Read More: Turnpike Lease best option financially
Medicaid Reform in Texas
NCPA analysis of the Medicaid reform proposal in Texas – mostly good ideas, but lacking some key components of free-market reform.
Media
Read More: Medicaid Reform in Texas
Term Limits Op-Ed
Rep. Daylin Leach with an editorial on why term limits are a bad idea in the Patriot News. Leach resorts to the standard three part argument – term limits…
Media
Read More: Term Limits Op-Ed
Is Health Spending Out of Control?
NCPA Analysis of government health spending. Their conclusion is that health care expenditures have risen so dramatically because they are on auto-pilot – i.e. lawmakers don’t need to pass…
Media
Read More: Is Health Spending Out of Control?
Congressmen warn Governor about Turnpike lease
From Capitolwire.com. Having criticized the Governor in my previous post, I will give him praise for dismissing the anti-market rhetoric of two Democratic Congressmen. HARRISBURG (May 16) –…
Media
Read More: Congressmen warn Governor about Turnpike lease
Stupid Voters!
After defeat of the Act 1 tax shift almost universally (the Patriot News identified only two districts that approved the shift, and one of those by a very tentative…
Media
Read More: Stupid Voters!Taxes & Economy
Lost Jobs, Lost Opportunities: The Reality of the Minimum Wage Hike
In 2006, Governor Ed Rendell argued that hiking Pennsylvania’s minimum wage by 39% would not lead to lost jobs and opportunities for low-wage workers. Unfortunately, Mr. Rendell has already been…
Commentary
Read More: Lost Jobs, Lost Opportunities: The Reality of the Minimum Wage Hike
RendellCare on Life Support
Patriot News on the lack of enthusiasm, and action, on most of Rendell’s health care plan.
Media
Read More: RendellCare on Life Support
Forces build against leasing turnpike
Tom Barnes in the Post-Gazette on the line-up of opposition to a proposed Turnpike Lease – though all the opposition he names are lobbyists hired by the Turnpike Commission…
Media
Read More: Forces build against leasing turnpike
SCHIP Crowds out Private Insurance
A new CBO report on SCHIP (government-run health insurance for kids, recently expanded in PA under Governor Rendell’s “Cover All Kids”) remarks that government health insurance creates dramatic “crowd…
Media
Read More: SCHIP Crowds out Private Insurance
Attacking Cyber Schools
AP story in PhillyBurbs.com on the attacks on Cyber School funding. There are several highly misleading statements. The article asserts that the school boards association and the teachers’ union…
Media
Read More: Attacking Cyber Schools