Nathan Benefield
Chief Policy Officer
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 Chief Policy Officer , 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.”
Taxes & Economy
Jesus and Taxes
Dimitri Vassilaros questions, in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, whether Jesus really endorsed the estate tax, higher income taxes, and raising the federal minimum wage.
Media
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Repealing the Federal Estate Tax
Facts about the estate tax from the Cato Institute.
Media
Read More: Repealing the Federal Estate TaxGovernment Accountability
General Assembly Too Big & Expensive
Editorial in the Press Enterprise Online on reducing the legislature. While they use figures from my testimony, they fail to note that the crux of our position is…
Media
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Reclaim government
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on shrinking and reforming state government, supporting “the Commonwealth Foundation’s commonsense solutions“.
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Calculator for Property Tax Relief/Increase
The Pennsylvania Coalition of Taxpayers has created a calculator to determine how much relief, or how much of a tax increase you will get under the new property…
Media
Read More: Calculator for Property Tax Relief/IncreaseGovernment Accountability
Swann on Reform
Gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann’s response to a survey on government reform, compiled by Democracy Rising PA, with comments from the Commonwealth Foundation.
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Veon draws cheers, but not for his travel
Ruth Ann Dailey column in today’s Post-Gazette on pork, legislator travel and perks, and open records. Think-tanks and reform groups such as the Commonwealth Foundation, Common Cause and Democracy…
Media
Read More: Veon draws cheers, but not for his travelGovernment Accountability
Rendell on Reform
Governor Rendell’s response to a survey on government reform, compiled Democracy Rising PA, with comments from the Commonwealth Foundation.
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Read More: Rendell on ReformGovernment Accountability
Does Size Matter?
If you prefer audio podcast to the text version, you can listen to my testimony on reducing the size of the General Assembly. (Note: the file is 2MB…
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Read More: Does Size Matter?Government Accountability
Shrinking the Legislature
Thank you, Chairman Scarnati, and members of the Senate Majority Policy Committee for the opportunity to testify before you today on the issue of whether or not Pennsylvania should reduce…
Commentary
Read More: Shrinking the LegislatureRegulation
Record Number of Lottery Losers
Governor Rendell issued a news release on the state lottery. Proud of what he calls “a success story of good government and an organization of which all Pennsylvanians can…
Media
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Why Congress Should Reject a Minimum Wage Increase
Two articles from the Heritage Foundation: The first details how a minimum wage increase will hurt job prospects among low skill workers, and won’t reduce poverty. The second…
Media
Read More: Why Congress Should Reject a Minimum Wage IncreaseRegulation
Getting state legislators to work is costly
Post-Gazette article on the cost to taxpayers of the travel of several state lawmakers. Just another example of a failure of many in cover to be frugal when someone…
Media
Read More: Getting state legislators to work is costlyState Budget
States Looking to Spending Caps
While legislation limiting the growth of state spending in Pennsylvania (the “Taxpayer Fairness Act”) has stalled in the House Rules Committee, at least six states will be having ballot initiatives…
Media
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Politics trumps economics in Chicago
The Chicago city council passed a law which would mandate “Big-Box” retailers pay a minimum wage of $10/hour and $3 in fringe benefits, essentially an effort to keep Wal-Mart out…
Media
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President Rendell?
From Philadelphia Magazine: “Ed Rendell was dead in the water five months ago. Now it appears he’s a shoo-in to get reelected, and there are whispers about a VP…
Media
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Manufacturing Job Loss in the Great Lakes Region
The Brookings Institution released a study on manufacturing jobs lost in the Great Lakes region. The numbers and findings are interesting: many of the nation’s manufacturing jobs “lost” were…
Media
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Ed Rendell takes credit for everything
Tony Phyrillas latest editorial.
Media
Read More: Ed Rendell takes credit for everythingState Budget
Budgeting in Neverland
Policy Analysis from the Cato Institute on how Congress overspends because they only hear from the spending lobby, not taxpayers, during the budget process. The same can be said…
Media
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Tax Cuts Lead to Economic Growth
The US Treasury Department released an analysis yesterday finding what we already knew – tax cuts spur economic growth. The Wall Street Journal summarizes this report. It also finds…
Media
Read More: Tax Cuts Lead to Economic GrowthTaxes & Economy
More Vinsanity
A press release from Senator Vince Fumo’s office dismisses any notion that Pennsylvania business taxes are too high, citing select data showing Pennsylvania has merely a mediocre economic record…
Media
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