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
Joel Klein Gets the Public Pension Problem
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 ProblemRegulation
TastyKake: Continued Failure of Corporate Welfare
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 WelfareGovernment Accountability
Top Five CF Research Articles of 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 2010Government Accountability
Top Five PolicyBlog Posts of 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 2010Taxes & Economy
Marcellus Shale Job Creation Continues
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 ContinuesEducation
Report: School Choice Could Save PA Tax Dollars
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 DollarsGovernment Accountability
Philadelphia is Number 1 “Judical Hellhole” in US
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 USRegulation
How Many State Liquor Stores Should Pennsylvania Have?
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”?
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”?Education
PA School Districts Creating Online Options in Response to Cyber Schools
As reported in the Valley News Dispatch, Pennsylvania school districts continue to add online options in response to students leaving for public cyber schools. Two things to…
Media
Read More: PA School Districts Creating Online Options in Response to Cyber SchoolsState Budget
The Pot of Debt at the End of Rendell’s Rainbow
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 RainbowGovernment Accountability
Best Legislative Session Ever?
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
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 JobsTaxes & Economy
Oprah’s Dog Law Lacks Bite?
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
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 MoreTaxes & Economy
Long-Term Care a Growing Part of State Spending
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 SpendingTaxes & Economy
Even Al Gore Opposes Ethanol Subsidies
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 SubsidiesRegulation
Presentation on PA State Spending & Fiscal Crunch: What Now
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 NowPublic Union Democracy
Where do Union Dues Go?
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
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 DelayedRegulation
Time to End State Borrowing for “Economic Development”
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”