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
Dukakis on Minimum Wage and Immigration
Editorial by Michael Dukakis in today’s New York Times. Dukakis claims that if we raise the minimum wage to $8 hour, businesses will stop hiring illegal immigrants. Essentially…
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Tax Cuts are Good for Everyone
And (almost) everyone understands that, from today’s Wall Street Journal.
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PA Businesses to See Tax Cuts?
A report released today by The Tax Foundation looks at legislation expected to be voted on by the US House tomorrow on business taxes. This bill (HR 1956) would…
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Read More: PA Businesses to See Tax Cuts?Regulation
Sweet, sour of lawmaker pensions
More on lawmaker’s pensions and the coming crisis in the York Daily Record.
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Read More: Sweet, sour of lawmaker pensionsTaxes & Economy
Politicians are failing to tax and spend state to prosperity : The Morning Call Online
Read Matthew Brouillette’s latest commentary in today’s Allentown Morning Call.
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Read More: Politicians are failing to tax and spend state to prosperity : The Morning Call OnlineTaxes & Economy
Businesses are becoming “sick of Pennsylvania”
Article in The Republican & Herald on the tax climate in PA.
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Read More: Businesses are becoming “sick of Pennsylvania”Taxes & Economy
Friedman(s) talk current issues
Wall Street Journal intervew with Milton and Rose Friedman coverring illegal immigration, Iraq, and government spending.
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Read More: Friedman(s) talk current issuesRegulation
Harrisburg pensions: 50 lawmakers leaving seats this year
Chambersburg Public Opinion on retiring lawmakers’ pensions and the need to fix the pension system.
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Read More: Harrisburg pensions: 50 lawmakers leaving seats this yearRegulation
21st Retiring Rep to Profit from Repealed Pay Raise
Rock the Capital reports that Rep. Steven Stetler, who announced this week he would be retiring from office in September, will receive a pension increase of over $2,000/year from…
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Read More: 21st Retiring Rep to Profit from Repealed Pay RaiseRegulation
More money spent on gambling; still none received
Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review with more about the tranfer of funds to run the Gaming Control Board. Apparently, Gov. Rendell and budget Sec. Michael Masch plan to…
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Read More: More money spent on gambling; still none receivedHealth Care
Judge overturns Wal-Mart law
AP Story on the overturning of Maryland’s “Wal-Mart” Health Care law. This law would have required all businesses with 10,000 or more workers to spend at least 8% of…
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Read More: Judge overturns Wal-Mart lawGovernment Accountability
Database to Monitor Spending?
US Senators Tom Coburn and Jeff Flake have proposed a database tracking all recipients of federal grants (see Cato Institute analysis). Like many of you, I would enjoy easy…
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Read More: Database to Monitor Spending?Government Accountability
Is it 1994 all over again?
Former Congressman George Nethercutt in today’s Wall Street Journal on the fall election. He essentially argues that the party that does better is the party that offers the most…
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Read More: Is it 1994 all over again?Regulation
What are the odds? Pa. gaming board running out of money
Legalized gambling, once thought to be the cash cow for property tax reform, can’t even fund it own board. See the PennLive.com NewsFlash…
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Read More: What are the odds? Pa. gaming board running out of moneyRegulation
Steering Online Gamblers Toward State Lotteries
Jacob Sullum of the Reason Foundation wonders why some members of Congress are pushing for tougher measures banning online gambling while supporting state lotteries and casinos. The answer is…
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Read More: Steering Online Gamblers Toward State LotteriesTaxes & Economy
Cost of Government Day
Americans for Tax Reform released their Cost of Government Day Report yesterday, which was coincidently the national Cost of Government Day. This represents the day in which American earned…
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Read More: Cost of Government DayPublic Union Democracy
Ending Teacher Strikes?
Rep. Will Gabig has introduced legislation to curb teacher strikes (working with Simon Campbell of Stop Teacher Strikes Inc.) Check out the Courier Times Coverage. Read Simon’s recent…
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Read More: Ending Teacher Strikes?Taxes & Economy
Stocking up on tax dollars
Meadville Tribune editorial on how the state is spending the “windfall” surplus instead of returning it to taxpayers.
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Read More: Stocking up on tax dollarsGovernment Accountability
Mere Coincidence
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on the six-figure government job awarded to Joseph Hoeffel – who earlier this year dropped out of the Lt. Gov. race after a meeting with Governor…
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Property Tax “Reform” and Referendum
Read my letter to the editor in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer. Also note the conclusion reached by the Allentown Morning Call editorial on the recent property tax “relief:”…
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Read More: Property Tax “Reform” and ReferendumRegulation
Senate acts to cut back a few perks
As reported in the Patriot News, the state Senate plans to force Senators to contribute to their health care plans (possibly 1% of salary) and reduce the money available…
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