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
Time to End Borrowing for Corporate Welfare
The Pa. House is expected to vote this week on SB 1054, legislation to authorize $1.66 billion in state borrowing for the “capital budget.” The annual cost of this…
Media
Read More: Time to End Borrowing for Corporate WelfareRegulation
Pennsylvania Pols Pass Potent Potables Perestroika
Today, the Pennsylvania House amended HB 11 and then sent it on to the full house for consideration. The first amendment guts any privatization of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Pols Pass Potent Potables PerestroikaEducation
Patriot News (Mostly) Endorses School Choice
This week, the Patriot News editorial board wrote an endorsement of a school voucher proposal in Pennsylvania. Here is the key pro argument: The case for vouchers is…
Media
Read More: Patriot News (Mostly) Endorses School ChoiceEducation
School Choice in Pa. is Cure for Disaster
An excellent commentary by Jeanne Allen in the Delaware County Times sums up the case for school choice and the empirical evidence: Pennsylvania’s neighbors have led by example…
Media
Read More: School Choice in Pa. is Cure for DisasterEducation
Four of Five Philadelphia Students Not Proficient in Reading or Math
Yesterday, the National Center for Education Statistics (part of the U.S. Department of Education) released district perfomance data on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This is part…
Media
Read More: Four of Five Philadelphia Students Not Proficient in Reading or MathEducation
Are School Vouchers Constitutional in Pennsylvania?
Several attacks on school choice claim that using state funds for vouchers that might go to private schools is unconstitutional. Here are some facts and legal analysis on that issue.
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Read More: Are School Vouchers Constitutional in Pennsylvania?Education
Chart of the Day: Public School Enrollment vs Staff
One of the drivers of education spending is an increase in staff sizes while enrollment has declined. Data from the PA Department of Education indicates that from 1999-2000 to…
Media
Read More: Chart of the Day: Public School Enrollment vs StaffTaxes & Economy
Chart of the Day: Shale Growth Fuels Tax Growth
We noted previously how the boom from Marcellus Shale natural gas has fueled a dramatic increase in state corporate tax collections. Pennsylvania Department of Revenue data also show a…
Media
Read More: Chart of the Day: Shale Growth Fuels Tax GrowthRegulation
PLCB is $30 Million in the Hole
As Jay noted earlier, Auditor General Jack Wagner and a number of defenders of the current government monopoly argue that the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) is a great…
Media
Read More: PLCB is $30 Million in the HoleEducation
Improving Public Education…Through School Choice
Here is a letter to the editor I submitted to the Pocono Record, correcting the record on school choice: Your editorial, “Support your public schools” bashes school choice…
Media
Read More: Improving Public Education…Through School ChoiceRegulation
Green Fiascoes and Boondoggles
Economist Mark Hendrickson, a member of CF’s Council of Scholars, looks at the failure of government funded “green energy” projects in his latest column for the Center for Vision…
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Read More: Green Fiascoes and BoondogglesPublic Union Democracy
Right to Work Helps Oklahoma Economy
A new analysis from the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs shows that since the Sooner State passed a right to work law in 2001—allowing all workers to choose whether…
Media
Read More: Right to Work Helps Oklahoma Economy
House to Vote Marcellus Impact Fee
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is expected to vote on HB 1950 today, which would enact an impact fee on “nonconventional gas wells,” largely aimed at Marcellus Shale gas drilling.
Media
Read More: House to Vote Marcellus Impact FeeEducation
Is the Education Status Quo a Success?
Former Gov Ed Rendell was in town today to defend the status quo in education, claiming that more spending has produced great improvements in performance. Is he looking at…
Media
Read More: Is the Education Status Quo a Success?Education
Vouchers a Proven Solution
Today’s Philadelphia Inquirer featured a letter to the editor I wrote on school choice. Here is my full submission: I was disappointed to see the Inquirer’s…
Media
Read More: Vouchers a Proven SolutionTaxes & Economy
Are Gas Drillers Paying Their “Fair Share”?
The Scranton Times-Tribune and the Patriot-News criticize HB 1950 (the natural gas fee proposal) for not taxing gas drillers enough, yet fail to include basic information about…
Media
Read More: Are Gas Drillers Paying Their “Fair Share”?Education
Poll: Voters Want Broader School Choice
A new poll by Pulse Opinion Research, commissioned by Unite PA and the Independence Town Hall Tea Party Association, offers interesting information on public opinion on school choice.
Media
Read More: Poll: Voters Want Broader School ChoiceGovernment Accountability
Common Cause: Gas Political Money Can’t Match Unions
The third or fourth report by Common Cause PA on political spending (campaign contributions and lobbying) by the natural gas industry reveals nothing new. According to Common Cause, the Political…
Media
Read More: Common Cause: Gas Political Money Can’t Match UnionsRegulation
CF Answers Your Questions: Liquor Privatization
We had a few questions remaining from audience members following last week’s PolicyCast. In this short video, Priya Abraham and I tackle three questions on proposals to privatize state-run liquor…
Media
Read More: CF Answers Your Questions: Liquor PrivatizationEducation
Chart of the Day: Pennsylvania Spending and Performance
Following yesterday’s post highlighting Pennsylvania’s performance on the Nation’s Report Card, a fan asked us to chart performance side-by-side with public school spending. The chart below shows the increase…
Media
Read More: Chart of the Day: Pennsylvania Spending and PerformanceEducation
Nation’s Report Card: How Did Pennsylvania Schools Do?
Last week, the U.S. Department of Education released “The Nation’s Report Card,” looking at students’ performance on the National Assessement of Educational Programs, or NAEP, in 2011. In…
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Read More: Nation’s Report Card: How Did Pennsylvania Schools Do?