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.”
Education
Is Choice Harming Public Schools?
The Philadelphia Inquirer ran a story this week about the number of students (314,000 over nine years) served by Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC provides tax…
Media
Read More: Is Choice Harming Public Schools?Health Care
Repeal Obamacare Ad in Erie Times-News
The Manufacturer and Business Assocation, along with a whole slew of businesses in the Erie area, ran a full page add in the Erie Times-News calling for lawmakers to…
Media
Read More: Repeal Obamacare Ad in Erie Times-NewsEducation
Operation Restore Launched to Preserve School Choice in PA
The REACH Alliance launched Operation Restore, a campaign to restore the funding for Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program to $75 million. The EITC, which before…
Media
Read More: Operation Restore Launched to Preserve School Choice in PAHealth Care
How the Health Care Law is Financed
The Tax Foundation has a useful chart showing how the health care law is financed over the next 10 years (keep in mind most of the taxes don’t kick…
Media
Read More: How the Health Care Law is FinancedState Budget
Debating Taxes on Services
The New York Times has a piece on expanding state sales taxes to cover many services, with a specific focus on Pennsylvania. The articles focus primarily on the “modernization”…
Media
Read More: Debating Taxes on ServicesHealth Care
Who the Health Cares About the Constitution?
Constitutional questions have dogged the health care bill since its introduction. But rather than address these issues head on, supporters of the legislation have shrugged them off. Speaker Nancy Pelosi,…
Commentary
Read More: Who the Health Cares About the Constitution?Taxes & Economy
Which Sectors are Adding Jobs in Pennsylvania?
As reported earlier, Pennsylvania lost an estimated 16,000 jobs in February. Over the past year, the total jobs lost in the state adds to up about 141,000 (272,000 over…
Media
Read More: Which Sectors are Adding Jobs in Pennsylvania?Education
Rhetoric vs. Reality on Higher Ed
I got an email alert from Student PIRGs with the lead in, “College just got less expensive.” Really, that happened? Did anyone notice? Uh no. What they meant is…
Media
Read More: Rhetoric vs. Reality on Higher EdEducation
Some Facts About School Choice for Joe Hoeffel
In the Democrat contest for Pennsylvania Governor, Joe Hoeffel came out swinging, attacking Anthony Williams for supporting school choice. Apparently, Hoeffel thinks the…
Media
Read More: Some Facts About School Choice for Joe HoeffelRegulation
Slots vs. Lottery
PA Independent summarizes a recent Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee report that concludes slot machine gambling has not undermined lottery sales. I…
Media
Read More: Slots vs. LotteryRegulation
Illinois Passes Pension Reductions
While the Pennsylvania General Assembly is holding hearings to assess our public pension crisis is really bad, or really-really bad, Illinois is acting to reduce state pension benefits…
Media
Read More: Illinois Passes Pension ReductionsHealth Care
Health Care Reform: “Change” Is Not Necessarily Good
Economist Bill Dunkelberg gives his criticism of the health care bill signed this past week. Dr. Dunkelberg will keynote the upcoming RE Harper Economic Forums – April 26…
Media
Read More: Health Care Reform: “Change” Is Not Necessarily GoodTaxes & Economy
What the Heck is a Green Job Anyway?
Recently, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics requested comments on how it should try to measure “green jobs.” Here are the comments I offered: I am writing in…
Media
Read More: What the Heck is a Green Job Anyway?Government Accountability
Evans Threatens to De-Fund PA Attorney General in Tiff
In a Democratic response to Attorney General Tom Corbett’s decision to join 13 other states in filing a lawsuit against the Obama health care legislation, House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans…
Media
Read More: Evans Threatens to De-Fund PA Attorney General in TiffHealth Care
Georgia Pushing Interstate Competition in Health Insurance
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue is pushing legislation that would allow residents of the Peach State to purchase insurance across state lines, unilaterally giving residents permission to buy coverage approved…
Media
Read More: Georgia Pushing Interstate Competition in Health InsuranceTaxes & Economy
Do These Guys Know What a “Tax Break” Is?
Three Pennsylvania pro-tax, pro-government subsidy of special interest groups issued a statement calling for state taxes on natural gas extraction and on cigars and smokeless tobacco. There statements suggest…
Media
Read More: Do These Guys Know What a “Tax Break” Is?Health Care
Gov. Rendell Implies Attorneys Generals are Idiots
Commenting about Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett joining AGs in 10 other states in a lawsuit against the federal health care bill, Gov. Rendell had this to say…
Media
Read More: Gov. Rendell Implies Attorneys Generals are IdiotsHealth Care
Will the Health Care Bill Hold Up?
Ronald Reagan once said, “Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program.” Last night’s vote on health care reform was heralded by supporter as a “historic vote” which will…
Media
Read More: Will the Health Care Bill Hold Up?Health Care
Who Got Bribed on Health Care Vote?
Eric Telford (Twitter handle JoeTaxpayer) has started to round up Congressmen who change their health care vote after getting big grants for their districts: …
Media
Read More: Who Got Bribed on Health Care Vote?Taxes & Economy
Can Harrisburg Learn from Reason?
The Economist has a story on the city of Harrisburg’s fiscal mess, which has been years in the making. Thanks to an irresponsible city council, Harrisburg is still…
Media
Read More: Can Harrisburg Learn from Reason?Government Accountability
The Case for a Part-Time Legislature
There is a direct link between our full-time legislature and our state economy. A Commonwealth Foundation analysis shows a strong connection between legislative professionalization and higher spending per capita, a…
Commentary
Read More: The Case for a Part-Time Legislature