Nathan Benefield
Chief Policy Officer
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 Chief Policy Officer , 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
Failing to Understand Liquor Store Revenues
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell unveiled his state store privatization plan yesterday. This is obviously an issue to watch for in Pennsylvania, where liquor store privatization is also a…
Media
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West Virginia = Almost Heaven?
The “never-met-a-tax-I-didn’t-like” Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center claims that West Virginia has a booming natural gas drilling industry, despite a natural gas severance tax. This “fact” is extremely misleading.
Media
Read More: West Virginia = Almost Heaven?Taxes & Economy
What Rendell Wants from a Natural Gas Tax
An AP story highlighting Gov. Rendell’s push for a natural gas tax comes with the misleading headline “Pa. gov wants gas industry to help shale towns.” Nothing of the…
Media
Read More: What Rendell Wants from a Natural Gas TaxTaxes & Economy
Stimulus 5.0
President Obama has proposed yet another round of stimulus spending. Of course, he won’t call it a “stimulus,” because of how unpopular that has become. Others are, erroneously,…
Media
Read More: Stimulus 5.0Education
New Report Card on American Education
ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council, today released their latest Report Card on American Education. The annual report looks at both student performance and inputs into the education system, evaluating…
Media
Read More: New Report Card on American EducationTaxes & Economy
Dan Onorato’s Natural Gas Tax
Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Onorato held a press conference yesterday announcing he supports a tax on natural gas extraction in Pennsylvania (and that he kinda-sorta opposes other tax…
Media
Read More: Dan Onorato’s Natural Gas TaxTaxes & Economy
PA Unemployment Fraud Adding to Already-Bankrupt System
As PA Independent reports today, Pennsylvania had $374 million in overpayments for Unemployment Compensation (UC) last year, including $227 million in fraudulent claims, according to the US Department of…
Media
Read More: PA Unemployment Fraud Adding to Already-Bankrupt SystemTaxes & Economy
Should Higher Taxes be a “Priority”?
Here is a letter I sent the Patriot News on a natural gas jobs tax: Your August 31 editorial states that a natural gas tax should be the…
Media
Read More: Should Higher Taxes be a “Priority”?Taxes & Economy
The Imagined Effect of the Stimulus
Louis Woodhill writes on Real Clear Markets how the CBO’s estimated impact of the stimulus is a fantasy. In fact, the CBO readily admits it is simply plugging…
Media
Read More: The Imagined Effect of the StimulusRegulation
Understanding PSERS’ Gains
Pennsylvania’s pension fund for school employees, PSERS, reported significant gains in the past year — a 14% return on investment. This is higher than the national average, and nearly…
Media
Read More: Understanding PSERS’ GainsTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvanians Have Good Reasons to Oppose Higher Fuel Taxes
Grove City College economist Tracy Miller explains why Pennsylvania drivers are resistant to a higher gasoline tax. In contrast to prior periods when the tax was viewed as a…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Have Good Reasons to Oppose Higher Fuel TaxesTaxes & Economy
Had Enough Skewed Polls from Gov. Rendell Yet?
Ed Rendell’s “campaign” financed a new poll which was then given to the Governor’s Office to distribute, as well as to the propaganda arm of DEP and a…
Media
Read More: Had Enough Skewed Polls from Gov. Rendell Yet?Health Care
Insurance Hypocrisy
I saw a commercial during an episode of Jeopardy from the Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority. It warns people against trying to buy car insurance after an accident…
Media
Read More: Insurance HypocrisyEducation
Gov. Rendell’s Gamesmanship
While table games have been in Pennsylvania casinos for more than a month, I don't know if Gov. Rendell has tried his luck. But it would be a safe wager…
Commentary
Read More: Gov. Rendell’s GamesmanshipTaxes & Economy
Turnpike Commission, PennDOT Fight Over Their Spoils
The Patriot News today reports that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) and the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT) are arguing over how much money the PTC has to pay…
Media
Read More: Turnpike Commission, PennDOT Fight Over Their SpoilsState Budget
Why Lawmakers Don’t (And Shouldn’t) Raise Taxes
Terry Madonna and Michael Young have a new column asking why Pennsylvania lawmakers are so loath to raise taxes: This response differs dramatically from past practice. Throughout most…
Media
Read More: Why Lawmakers Don’t (And Shouldn’t) Raise TaxesTaxes & Economy
Subsidies For Me But Not For Thee
Advocates of the natural gas jobs tax constantly argue large drilling companies aren’t paying their “fair share”. Now the tax-me-more folks are taking it one step further — attacking the…
Media
Read More: Subsidies For Me But Not For TheeRegulation
Pennsylvania Liquor Fees to Rise
As reported at KDKA, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) will be raising fees on bottles of liquor beginning in January. The fee increase is expected to generate…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Liquor Fees to RiseRegulation
More on Philadelphia’s “Blogger Tax”
After we noted earlier this week Philadelphia’s forcing of any blogger with blogging income to pay the city’s business privilege license ($50/year or $300 for lifetime),…
Media
Read More: More on Philadelphia’s “Blogger Tax”Health Care
“Explaining” ObamaCare
Merrill Matthews has a piece up on Forbes.com on why ObamaCare needs explaining…to those who voted for it. The report also says, “It is critical to reassure seniors…
Media
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The A-Team View of Taxes
As a kid growing up, I used to love watching the A-Team every week. Each week the A-Team would find someone in trouble, usually due to a violent gang of…
Media
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