Nathan Benefield

Nathan Benefield

Senior Vice President

Nathan (Nate) Benefield is the Senior Vice President at the Commonwealth Foundation.

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

Joel Klein Gets the Public Pension Problem

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 10, 2011

Joel Klein has an excellent article on teacher pensions in today’s Wall Street Journal: Whether the investment returns are there or not, defined-benefit pensions require the government to…

Media

Read More: Joel Klein Gets the Public Pension Problem

Regulation

TastyKake: Continued Failure of Corporate Welfare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 6, 2011

PA Independent reports that TastyKake, a corporation with operations in Philadelphia and Chester County, may have to liquidate. This despite a $32 million low-interest state loan (which is looking…

Media

Read More: TastyKake: Continued Failure of Corporate Welfare

Government Accountability

Top Five CF Research Articles of 2010

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 31, 2010

Based on website visits, here are the five most popular research articles produced by the Commonwealth Foundation in the past year: #5: A Taxpayer’s Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania…

Media

Read More: Top Five CF Research Articles of 2010

Government Accountability

Top Five PolicyBlog Posts of 2010

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 30, 2010

Based on reader visits, here are our five most popular PolicyBlog posts over the past year: #5: 2010 SAT Scores by State The College Board has released the results of…

Media

Read More: Top Five PolicyBlog Posts of 2010

Taxes & Economy

Marcellus Shale Job Creation Continues

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 23, 2010

A recent Williamsport Sun-Gazette article gives props to the natural gas industry for being an economic boost, and keeping unemployment relatively low in Bradford County, a central hub for…

Media

Read More: Marcellus Shale Job Creation Continues

Education

Report: School Choice Could Save PA Tax Dollars

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 21, 2010

The Foundation for Educational Choice has a new analysis out, suggesting that the federal “Race to the Top” (RTTP) funding from the stimulus bill should be used to…

Media

Read More: Report: School Choice Could Save PA Tax Dollars

Government Accountability

Philadelphia is Number 1 “Judical Hellhole” in US

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 20, 2010

Philadelphia has been named the number one “judicial hellhole” in a new ranking by the American Tort Reform Association. Philadelphia is a source of great concern due…

Media

Read More: Philadelphia is Number 1 “Judical Hellhole” in US

Regulation

How Many State Liquor Stores Should Pennsylvania Have?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 17, 2010

Ben Waxman of the Philadelphia Daily News raises an interesting question about liquor privatization. Noting public support for liquor privatization, he posits whether it would be better to…

Media

Read More: How Many State Liquor Stores Should Pennsylvania Have?

State Budget

Why PA State Debt is “So Low”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 17, 2010

Yesterday, during his mid-year budget briefing, Gov. Rendell repeated his claims that Pennsylvania state debt is pretty low, less than $1,000 per resident, and much lower (relative to state GDP)…

Media

Read More: Why PA State Debt is “So Low”?

State Budget

The Pot of Debt at the End of Rendell’s Rainbow

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 13, 2010

These days it's hard enough for Pennsylvania families to think about meeting their obligations let alone piling on more debt.  But that's exactly what outgoing Gov. Ed Rendell did this…

Commentary

Read More: The Pot of Debt at the End of Rendell’s Rainbow

Government Accountability

Best Legislative Session Ever?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 6, 2010

Jan Murphy of the Patriot-News notes that the 2009-10 Pennsylvania Legislative Session had the fewest new laws passed in 24 years. Since most pieces of legislation are a new…

Media

Read More: Best Legislative Session Ever?

Taxes & Economy

How Green Jobs Destroy Good Jobs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 3, 2010

The Pennsylvania Solar Industries Association, along with PennEnvironment are touting a solar industry sponsored study, which estimates the Commonwealth has created 6,700 solar jobs. These groups are not…

Media

Read More: How Green Jobs Destroy Good Jobs

Taxes & Economy

Oprah’s Dog Law Lacks Bite?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 3, 2010

PA State Senator John Eichelberger gives a scathing review of Pennsylvania’s 2008 “dog law”, which had the noble intention of shutting down “puppy mills,” but has resulted in forcing…

Media

Read More: Oprah’s Dog Law Lacks Bite?

State Budget

Gov. Rendell Wants to Borrow $1 Billion More

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 1, 2010

Gov. Rendell is pushing to issue $1 billion in new state debt before he leaves office in January. Of course, before the bonds are issued, either the Auditor General or…

Media

Read More: Gov. Rendell Wants to Borrow $1 Billion More

Taxes & Economy

Long-Term Care a Growing Part of State Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 29, 2010

The Healthcare Economist blog highlights the size and growth of long-term care (LTC) spending. Medicaid spending on long-term care services, including home/community care and traditional nursing homes, has approximately quadrupled in the past…

Media

Read More: Long-Term Care a Growing Part of State Spending

Taxes & Economy

Even Al Gore Opposes Ethanol Subsidies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 23, 2010

Yesterday, former Vice President and emperor of global warming alarmism Al Gore admitted that it was a mistake to support ethanol mandates and subsidies. Gore blamed the political dynamics,…

Media

Read More: Even Al Gore Opposes Ethanol Subsidies

Regulation

Presentation on PA State Spending & Fiscal Crunch: What Now

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 19, 2010

My presentation to the Berks County Patriots on Pennsylvania state spending and the fiscal and economic challenges facing Pennsylvania is available below, or can be downloaded here:…

Media

Read More: Presentation on PA State Spending & Fiscal Crunch: What Now

Public Union Democracy

Where do Union Dues Go?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 18, 2010

Here is a great new video from the Competitive Enterprise Institute tracking the use of union dues. In forced-union states like Pennsylvania—in which employees can be required to join…

Media

Read More: Where do Union Dues Go?

Regulation

Chart: PA Pension Spike Delayed

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 16, 2010

After the passage of HB 2497 yesterday, assuming Gov. Rendell signs the bill, and it overcomes court challenges on its constitutionality, the dreaded pension spike will be merely delayed a…

Media

Read More: Chart: PA Pension Spike Delayed

Regulation

Time to End State Borrowing for “Economic Development”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 16, 2010

Fox 29 Philadelphia has a video story up about the use of RACP money—state borrowing for corporate welfare—for projects such as resort spas, sports stadiums, and Tasty Cakes (not…

Media

Read More: Time to End State Borrowing for “Economic Development”