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.”

Government Accountability

Why Every Teacher Should Stop Paying PSEA Dues

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 15, 2010

A couple of stories about Pennsylvania’s pension crisis reveal some crazy talk (HT Grassroots PA). First, in an article covering some proposed reforms, Gov. Rendell claims gambling will…

Media

Read More: Why Every Teacher Should Stop Paying PSEA Dues

Regulation

Are Pennsylvania Taxes “Money Well Spent?”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 15, 2010

Gov. Rendell proposes balancing the state budget with a combination of new and higher taxes, another federal bailout, and additional state borrowing.  When confronted by opposition to additional taxes on…

Commentary

Read More: Are Pennsylvania Taxes “Money Well Spent?”

Taxes & Economy

Economics is Funky

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 14, 2010

In discussing a natural gas severance tax, Patriot News reporter-columnist Laura Vescey makes fun of the fundamental economic principle that companies…

Media

Read More: Economics is Funky

Government Accountability

Budget Ideas for PA from Other States

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 14, 2010

The April 2010 edition of the Inside ALEC newsletter has a number of ideas Pennsylvania lawmakers should look at to balance the state budget, and for long-term fiscal reform.

Media

Read More: Budget Ideas for PA from Other States

Regulation

Babies Buying Beer?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 11, 2010

Those who profit from Pennsylvania’s current liquor distribution monopoly have an ongoing campaign to stop liquor store privatization. One ad shows a man at a gas pump looking at cases…

Media

Read More: Babies Buying Beer?

Regulation

Green Jobs and the Broken Window Fallacy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 11, 2010

On behalf of the Commonwealth Foundation, an independent, nonpartisan public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg, we would like to thank Chairman Saylor and the members of the…

Testimony

Read More: Green Jobs and the Broken Window Fallacy

Public Union Democracy

Are Government Workers Underpaid?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 11, 2010

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has a new report showing state and local government workers earn far more than their private sector counterparts. The Wall Street Journal…

Media

Read More: Are Government Workers Underpaid?

State Budget

National Groups Weigh in on Pennsylvania Tax Hike

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 10, 2010

The National Taxpayers Union send a recent letter to Pennsylvania lawmakers on proposed tax hikes to balance the PA state budget.  John Stephenson, NTU…

Media

Read More: National Groups Weigh in on Pennsylvania Tax Hike

Education

Government Preschool Delivers Few Results

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 10, 2010

State Sen. Pat Browne is quoted on John Micek’s blog Wednesday, citing an oft-repeated claim that government funding for preschool is one of the “best investments” of taxpayer money:…

Media

Read More: Government Preschool Delivers Few Results

Regulation

Why Taxing Natural Gas Won’t Solve PA Budget Woes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 9, 2010

Here is a letter I sent in to the Scranton Times Tribune (a slightly edited version was printed today) on the proposed natural gas severance tax and the Pennsylvania…

Media

Read More: Why Taxing Natural Gas Won’t Solve PA Budget Woes

Government Accountability

Judical Merit Selection Info

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 9, 2010

A proposed Pennsylvania state constitutional amendment on merit selection of judges is/was the subject of a press conference today, feature the most recent living Pennsylvania governors. The topic was spurred…

Media

Read More: Judical Merit Selection Info

Regulation

The $52 Billion Pension Deferral Plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 9, 2010

Legislation that would implement Gov. Rendell’s deferral of payment on state pension obligations is under debate in Pennsylvania House. HB 2497 would limit the annual increased in the…

Media

Read More: The $52 Billion Pension Deferral Plan

Taxes & Economy

The Overton Window

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 8, 2010

The Overton Window – the title of Glenn Beck’s new book, a work of fiction which borrows from the idea- is a concept that help drives the work of…

Media

Read More: The Overton Window

State Budget

Rendell Ends Taxpayer Funded Legacy Project

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 7, 2010

Reported here earlier, the Rendell administration had been paying a public relations guru to research the “successes” of Rendell’s policies, to be used to lobby for higher taxes. Today.

Media

Read More: Rendell Ends Taxpayer Funded Legacy Project

Regulation

Video: Fiscal Lessons for Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 7, 2010

In a new video, Maurice McTigue, Vice President at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, and a former member of the New Zealand Parliament, speaks about how…

Media

Read More: Video: Fiscal Lessons for Pennsylvania

State Budget

The State and Local Government Debt Mess

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 4, 2010

While investment guru Warren Buffett is pulling out of municipal bonds, Gov. Rendell says Buffett doesn’t know what he is talking about, and that there is no problem with…

Media

Read More: The State and Local Government Debt Mess

Regulation

Why PA Corporations Don’t Pay Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 3, 2010

Gov. Rendell and his allies and shills that call on higher taxes for businesses like to claim that 70% of Pennsylvania corporations don’t pay…

Media

Read More: Why PA Corporations Don’t Pay Taxes

Taxes & Economy

Presentation: Lessons of Fiscal Responsibility for Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 3, 2010

Maurice McTigue, Vice President at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, and a former member of the New Zealand Parliament, spoke at a Commonwealth Foundation breakfast yesterday.

Media

Read More: Presentation: Lessons of Fiscal Responsibility for Pennsylvania

Regulation

More Evidence on Privatizing Liquor

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 3, 2010

Don Boudreaux and Julia Williams have an op-ed arguing for privatization of Virginia’s state liquor stores, noting little difference between control and license state in alcohol-related deaths, binge drinking,…

Media

Read More: More Evidence on Privatizing Liquor