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.”
Government Accountability
Judical Merit Selection Info
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…
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The $52 Billion Pension Deferral Plan
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…
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Read More: The $52 Billion Pension Deferral PlanTaxes & Economy
The Overton Window
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 WindowState Budget
Rendell Ends Taxpayer Funded Legacy Project
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.
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Read More: Rendell Ends Taxpayer Funded Legacy ProjectState Budget
How Many State Workers Will Get Laid Off for the “Legacy Project”?
“We’ve cut state government to the bone” Gov. Rendell likes to claim, while demanding higher taxes, decrying cuts to key services, and threatening to lay off state workers. But…
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Read More: How Many State Workers Will Get Laid Off for the “Legacy Project”?Regulation
Video: Fiscal Lessons for Pennsylvania
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…
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Read More: Video: Fiscal Lessons for PennsylvaniaState Budget
The State and Local Government Debt Mess
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…
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Why PA Corporations Don’t Pay Taxes
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…
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Read More: Why PA Corporations Don’t Pay TaxesTaxes & Economy
Presentation: Lessons of Fiscal Responsibility for Pennsylvania
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.
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Read More: Presentation: Lessons of Fiscal Responsibility for PennsylvaniaRegulation
More Evidence on Privatizing Liquor
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,…
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Read More: More Evidence on Privatizing LiquorTaxes & Economy
How Public-Private Toll Roads are Financed
Robert Poole clarifies a number of misconceptions about how toll roads are financed – particularly in the cases of public private partnerships for new projects. This is not a…
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Read More: How Public-Private Toll Roads are FinancedGovernment Accountability
Accurate Information About a Part-Time Legislature
Senator Daylin Leach opined in the Post-Gazette over the weekend, defending the legislature he serves in (previously as a House member) against the Grand Jury report calling for…
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Read More: Accurate Information About a Part-Time LegislatureRegulation
Rendell: Democrats will Do Well if Voters Ignore the Policy Debate
The Wall Street Journal recently published an interview with Gov. Rendell that highlighted Rendell’s analysis of policy issues – the stimulus, Wall Street/bailouts, and Immigration – at least in…
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Read More: Rendell: Democrats will Do Well if Voters Ignore the Policy DebateGovernment Accountability
On Partisan Legislative Staffers
One recommendation of the Grand Jury report release this week was that the Pennsylvania General Assembly should move from hiring partisan staff for each caucus to having a centralized…
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Read More: On Partisan Legislative StaffersPublic Union Democracy
CF Joins Coalition Opposing Bailout of Union Pensions
The Commonwealth Foundation joined with 50 other organizations in opposing using taxpayer funds to bailout private pensions; see the news release from Americans for Tax Reform. Two separate bills,…
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Read More: CF Joins Coalition Opposing Bailout of Union PensionsState Budget
Federal Earmarks Hurt State Economies
A new study by three Harvard faculty finds that seniority of a state’s congressional delegation does lead to more earmarks and federal aid for the state, it doesn’t improve…
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Read More: Federal Earmarks Hurt State EconomiesRegulation
PA House Authorizes New Debt for Corporate Welfare
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House approved legislation – HB 2399 – to allow the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) to borrow and additional $50 to $100 million for additional “economic development…
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Read More: PA House Authorizes New Debt for Corporate WelfareTaxes & Economy
Who are the Tea Party Members?
Much has been said and made of the Tea Party movement over the past year and especially over the last several months, much by those who have no idea what…
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Read More: Who are the Tea Party Members?Public Union Democracy
Union Boss Honored for Decline in Union Membership
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a crucial piece of legislation – a resolution honoring our old “friend” Bill George, outgoing head of the PA AFL-CIO. What…
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Read More: Union Boss Honored for Decline in Union MembershipGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania Budget Presentation
Below you can find my latest version of a presentation on the Pennsylvania state budget and economic policy. PA Budget and…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Budget PresentationTaxes & Economy
Another Commercial Produced by PA Government
I caught another TV commercial produced by Pennsylvania state government the other night. This one is intended to scare viewers who are thinking of committing insurance fraud…and make the…
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Read More: Another Commercial Produced by PA Government