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.”
Regulation
Consensus: Liquor Privatization No Threat to Safety
A recent Philadelphia Inquirer piece tries to give both sides of the debate over liquor privatization. But one key fact ingored was that the Community Preventive Services Task Force…
Media
Read More: Consensus: Liquor Privatization No Threat to SafetyRegulation
Sobering Facts on Liquor Privatization
Sen. Daylin Leach’s editorial on liquor store privatization repeatedly misstates facts. Here is my letter to the editor in the Delaware County Times to set the record straight:…
Media
Read More: Sobering Facts on Liquor PrivatizationWelfare
Reforms Bringing Sanity to Welfare
Last year the Pa. Department of Public Welfare implemented—and Commonwealth Foundation touted—a new asset test on food stamps to ensure those with means were not benefiting from programs intended…
Media
Read More: Reforms Bringing Sanity to WelfareRegulation
Fact Check: Liquor Liberty in Washington
In 2011, voters in Washington State approved a ballot measure to privatize the state wholesale and retail liquor monopoly, allowing private retailers to sell liquor. Unlike Pennsylvania, wine was already…
Media
Read More: Fact Check: Liquor Liberty in WashingtonRegulation
Liquor Privatization: Good for Business (Except in Jersey)
Ending Pennsylvania’s government liquor monopoly has some folks worried…like liquor store owners in New Jersey. Writes Jason Laday of the South Jersey Times: At any given time, on…
Media
Read More: Liquor Privatization: Good for Business (Except in Jersey)Regulation
Liquor Privatization Benefits Beer Distributors
In the Bucks County Intelligencer, Sen. Chuck McIlhinney suggests that the liquor privization bill that passed the House last week doesn’t do enough for beer distributors. In contrast,…
Media
Read More: Liquor Privatization Benefits Beer Distributors
Liquor Privatization: Social Impacts
The PLCB has a conflict of interest-on the one hand controlling and monitoring alcohol, and on the other, advertising and marketing the sale of alcohol. Government control has not made…
Memo
Read More: Liquor Privatization: Social ImpactsRegulation
Who Supports Liquor Liberty?
Today the Pennsylvania House is poised to pass landmark legislation (H.B. 790) to privatize the 80-year-old state store system and end the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s (PLCB) inefficient and antiquated…
Media
Read More: Who Supports Liquor Liberty?Health Care
Expanding Medicaid: Eat Now, Starve Later
When the governor released his budget last month, the loudest opposition hinged on Medicaid - government insurance for the poor and disabled. Advocates of expanding the program via the Affordable…
Commentary
Read More: Expanding Medicaid: Eat Now, Starve LaterRegulation
Mailbag: Booze Q’s
As legislation to get government out of the booze business is debated in the state House, CF‘s mailbox is overflowing with questions about liquor liberty! You asked, we answered: Q:…
Media
Read More: Mailbag: Booze Q’sRegulation
Desperate Times, Desperate Claims
UFCW President Wendell Young is so desperate to retain Pennsylvania’s 80-year old government liquor monopoly that he’ll say anything. Most recently, he claimed “privateers” were hacking an online poll…
Media
Read More: Desperate Times, Desperate ClaimsRegulation
Remove Politics from Pensions
A letter to the editor I sent to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette takes on some of the myths and facts of pension reform: Nina Esposito-Visgitis, president of the Pittsburgh…
Media
Read More: Remove Politics from PensionsHealth Care
Facts, Not Hate, In Medicaid Debate
“A few dying residents won’t matter to these people…” So say supporters of implementing Obamacare in Pennsylvania about our friends at Americans for Prosperity. AFP launched a new action…
Media
Read More: Facts, Not Hate, In Medicaid DebateHealth Care
Medicaid “Free Lunch” Nauseates Lawmakers
Following news that Gov. Corbett was going to meet with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, and rumors he might reverse his opposition to expanding…
Media
Read More: Medicaid “Free Lunch” Nauseates LawmakersHealth Care
No “Free Lunch” with Medicaid Expansion
If I offered you a "free lunch" every day for the rest of your life, you'd take it, right? Oh, but there are a few strings attached. The lunch may…
Commentary
Read More: No “Free Lunch” with Medicaid ExpansionHealth Care
Where Does Government Get Money?
Where does the federal government get its money? Does it grow on trees? Does it fall from the sky like manna from heaven? Is there a genie who keeps granting…
Media
Read More: Where Does Government Get Money?Regulation
Pension Reform Doesn’t Bring Higher Costs
The Allentown Morning Call features an article on pension reform in which a representative of the Public Employee Retirement Commission claims that Gov. Corbett’s proposal to put new employees…
Media
Read More: Pension Reform Doesn’t Bring Higher CostsHealth Care
Medicaid Harms States, Poor & Taxpayers
A new report and commentary from the Galen Institute details the reasons why the “free money” promised by the federal government for expanding Medicaid is a bad deal…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Harms States, Poor & TaxpayersTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvanians Bleeding Green with Energy Mandates
Pennsylvania’s alternative energy mandates will result in higher energy costs, leading to lower incomes and less investment, and costing the state thousands of jobs, according to a new study…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Bleeding Green with Energy MandatesRegulation
Leader Launches Liquor Liberty Legislation
House Majority Leader Mike Turzai put forth a cosponsorship memo announcing legislation to end the government-run liquor store monopoly. The legislation will be officially introduced on March 4 as…
Media
Read More: Leader Launches Liquor Liberty LegislationRegulation
Taxpayers Lose without Lottery Deal
Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced today she would not sign off on a contract with a private manager for the Pennsylvania lottery. The real losers from this decision are…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers Lose without Lottery Deal