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.”
A Local Look at Marcellus Shale with Rep. Tina Pickett
State Rep. Tina Pickett represents the 110th legislative district—covering a large part of what is now considered “Marcellus Shale country.” She took some time to sit down with Matt Brouillette…
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Read More: A Local Look at Marcellus Shale with Rep. Tina PickettEducation
Sen. Pat Browne Talks School & Liquor Choice
In the latest edition of The BOX Program podcast, State Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne sits down sits down with Matt Brouillette. Sen. Browne discusses school choice and liquor store…
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Read More: Sen. Pat Browne Talks School & Liquor ChoiceEducation
Facts vs. Silly Rhetoric on School Choice
Tonight, I am speaking at a forum on school choice, and wanted to find some absurd, outlandish, and easily refuted claims from school choice opponents to lead with. Thanks…
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Read More: Facts vs. Silly Rhetoric on School ChoiceRegulation
Did Union Boss Young Read Wrong Liquor Study?
The union boss who earns nearly $300,000 each year by forcing liquor store employees to pay dues to his union released a statement regarding the PFM group’s report…
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Read More: Did Union Boss Young Read Wrong Liquor Study?Regulation
Highlights from Governor’s Liquor Privatization Summary
Gov. Tom Corbett released a long-awaited study from The PFM Group on state liquor store privatization. Click here for the full study (nearly 300 pages), or here to get…
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Read More: Highlights from Governor’s Liquor Privatization SummaryRegulation
Will Liquor Liberty Have to Wait Another Year?
The Patriot News obtained a draft copy of the forthcoming study on liquor store privatization commissioned by Gov. Tom Corbett. According to the story, the report predicts auctioning…
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Read More: Will Liquor Liberty Have to Wait Another Year?Education
School Choice: Accountable and Successful
Here is a recent letter I submitted to the Delaware County Times: A recent story carries the title, “Educators oppose guv’s voucher plan,” though the story quotes no…
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Read More: School Choice: Accountable and SuccessfulTaxes & Economy
Blame Game No Jobs Gain
Pennsylvania House Democrats put out an email blaming Gov. Corbett and Republicans for a lousy economy: Since Republicans passed the Corbett budget in June, unemployment in Pennsylvania has risen more…
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Read More: Blame Game No Jobs GainEducation
School Choice Saves Kids, Taxpayers $4 Billion
Critics of expanding school choice in Pennsylvania often claim it will “cost too much” or drain precious resources. But in fact, school choice already saves Pennsylvania taxpayers more than $4…
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Read More: School Choice Saves Kids, Taxpayers $4 BillionEducation
Truth About Failing Schools is Scary
Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released an analysis updating violence statistics from failing public schools. These 141 schools with data available all rank in the bottom-5 percent based on…
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Read More: Truth About Failing Schools is ScaryTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Inheritance Tax
The Pennsylvania House Finance Committee held a hearing today on a number of proposals to eliminate, reduce, or change the state inheritance tax. The Pennsylvania inheritance tax applies to all…
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Read More: Pennsylvania’s Inheritance TaxTaxes & Economy
Inheritance Tax Reform
Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield, Director of Policy Analysis, Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, Pennsylvania House Finance Committee Good morning. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Analysis for…
Testimony
Read More: Inheritance Tax ReformEducation
How Does Your Public School Stack up Against the World?
The George W. Bush Institute has a new “Global Report Card” looking at test scores for each school district in the United States against students around the world…
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Read More: How Does Your Public School Stack up Against the World?Education
The Learning Revolution
Online learning serves a significant and growing number of students, and represents a significant shift in how we educate Pennsylvania's children. In light of the growth of cyber and hybrid…
Report
Read More: The Learning RevolutionEducation
Taxpayer-Funded Lobbyists’ Survey Contradicts Real Polls
The Pennsylvania School Boards Association has released a new “survey” claiming that state residents oppose plans to provide vouchers to students. The PSBA’s funding comes from taxpayers through school…
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Read More: Taxpayer-Funded Lobbyists’ Survey Contradicts Real Polls
Corbett’s Fee Won’t Fund PennFuture, and PennFuture Isn’t Happy
Following Gov. Corbett’s outline for a Marcellus Shale impact fee, enviro-profiteers PennFuture blasted the Governor’s proposal because, among other things, it “leaves too much money on the…
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Read More: Corbett’s Fee Won’t Fund PennFuture, and PennFuture Isn’t HappyTaxes & Economy
Evaluating Gov Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Impact Fee
Gov. Tom Corbett unveiled his Marcellus Shale impact fee proposal in Pittsburgh today. Corbett’s proposal represents a significant improvement from some of the leading tax and fee proposals. Framework…
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Read More: Evaluating Gov Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Impact FeeRegulation
Lessons for Pennsylvania from Jersey Shore
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie recently nixed a tax credit for production of MTV’s Jersey Shore. This is a TV show that apparently doesn’t portray New Jersey in the…
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Read More: Lessons for Pennsylvania from Jersey ShorePublic Union Democracy
New Polling Shows 72 Percent of Pennsylvanians Support Right to Work
New polling conducted by Douglas E. Schoen, LLC for the Manhattan Institute nationally and in 10 targeted states shows widespread bipartisan support to reduce state government spending rather than…
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Read More: New Polling Shows 72 Percent of Pennsylvanians Support Right to WorkEducation
SAT Scores by State, 2011
EDITORS NOTE: Click here for the 2014 SAT Scores by state Every year, the College Board puts out SAT scores by state, but only in PDF format. Since…
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Read More: SAT Scores by State, 2011
Frackophobes With Egg on Their Face
While Pennsylvania dealt with the realities of floods last week, frackophobic Penn Environment exploited the disaster by flooding the blogosphere with fear through positing a picture that led…
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Read More: Frackophobes With Egg on Their Face