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.”

State Budget

PA’s Biggest Porkers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 18, 2010

Taxpayers for Common Sense has a new database on FY 2010 earmarks by Congress. As a state, Pennsylvania ranks 6th in value of earmarks, getting $366 million from 457…

Media

Read More: PA’s Biggest Porkers

Taxes & Economy

Some Stimulating Numbers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 18, 2010

On the one year anniversary of the “stimulus”, OpenMarket.org has some numbers on how well the stimulus has worked: * The unemployment rate has increased since the stimulus bill…

Media

Read More: Some Stimulating Numbers

Government Accountability

The True Purpose of Lobbyist Disclosure

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 17, 2010

I have recently learned the true motives behind Pennsylvania’s recent lobbyist disclosure law — as I, and everyone else on staff who registered with the state as a lobbyist has…

Media

Read More: The True Purpose of Lobbyist Disclosure

Government Accountability

Biennial Legislatures

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2010

NCSL has a new podcast discussing biennial legislatures – i.e. states where the General Assembly meets for a limited session every two years.  There have been a handful of…

Media

Read More: Biennial Legislatures

Health Care

Virginia Passes Health Care Freedom Act

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2010

The Virginia House of Representatives passed SB 417, sending it on to Gov. McDonnell, who is expected to sign it.  The legislation would state, in defiance of health…

Media

Read More: Virginia Passes Health Care Freedom Act

Regulation

Tracking the Bailout Money

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2010

Propublica has a good tool tracking all the money the federal government has given out in both the TARP bailout and the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Media

Read More: Tracking the Bailout Money

Regulation

Government Pension Plans Facing Crisis in Many States

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2010

RiShawn Biddle has a good article at American Spectator on how public school pensions and health care benefits are a huge cost burden in many states. New Jersey is…

Media

Read More: Government Pension Plans Facing Crisis in Many States

Government Accountability

The 70s Called, and Wants Its Legislators Back

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2010

State Rep. Frank Oliver announced he will be retiring at the end of his term.  This retirement – along with those of Sen. Bob Mellow, Sen. Barry Stout, and…

Media

Read More: The 70s Called, and Wants Its Legislators Back

Regulation

Agriculture: Pennsylvania’s #1 Industry (in Lobbying)

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2010

The lobbyist group Triad Strategies has a new blog focusing on Pennsylvania policy and politics, which features a recent post by George Wolff that calls for taxpayers to…

Media

Read More: Agriculture: Pennsylvania’s #1 Industry (in Lobbying)

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Turnpike Already Hiring Consultants for I-80 Tolling

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2010

Toll Roads News reports that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is seeking bids for consultants for the conversion of the highway to a toll road. The four contracts would each…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Already Hiring Consultants for I-80 Tolling

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansions Set to Star Wars

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2010

Here is a video listing the 74 items currently exempt from the Pennsylvania sales tax that Gov. Rendell has proposed taxing – set to the introduction of Star Wars…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansions Set to Star Wars

Education

Climategate is an Embarassment

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2010

Penn State sophomore Samuel Settle pens a letter on why he is embarrassed of professor Michael Mann’s behavior, and his school’s white-washing of an investigation. Click here for our…

Media

Read More: Climategate is an Embarassment

Public Union Democracy

The Impact of Unions on Public Policy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 11, 2010

The latest Cato Journal takes on the topic of “Are Unions Good for America?” The journal features a number of good articles on issues of relevance nationally and in…

Media

Read More: The Impact of Unions on Public Policy

Government Accountability

The End of Taxpayer-Funded Newsletters?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 11, 2010

Darwyyn Deyo reports that the PA House of Representatives is moving from away from paper newsletters to email newsletters to registered voters.  This is a good move, likely to…

Media

Read More: The End of Taxpayer-Funded Newsletters?

State Budget

The Merits of an Expanded Sales Tax

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 11, 2010

Josh Barro of the Manhattan Institute has a recent op-ed on the idea of states broadening their sales tax base, noting that several states are looking this direction.

Media

Read More: The Merits of an Expanded Sales Tax

Regulation

Still More Job Security in Pennsylvania Government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 10, 2010

Gov. Rendell once again touted the reduction in and relatively-low number of state government employees.  But as we noted last year, the “state complement” includes only about half of…

Media

Read More: Still More Job Security in Pennsylvania Government

Public Union Democracy

PSEA Complicit in Pension Debacle

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 10, 2010

The PSEA has a ridiculous new video calling on members to demand state lawmakers “keep their promise” on pension plans – essentially saying “don’t reform the system at all,”…

Media

Read More: PSEA Complicit in Pension Debacle

State Budget

No Solutions in Rendell’s Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 10, 2010

The Keystone State for years has been afflicted by government inefficiency and overspending.  Since Gov. Rendell took office in 2003, Pennsylvania’s burden of state and local taxes has increased from…

Commentary

Read More: No Solutions in Rendell’s Budget

State Budget

Proposed Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansion Categories

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 10, 2010

As part of his budget, Gov. Rendell has proposed lowering Pennsylvania’s sales tax from 6% to 4% (Philadelphia has an additional 2% and Allegheny County 1% on top of the…

Media

Read More: Proposed Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansion Categories

Public Union Democracy

Growth of Government Unions in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 9, 2010

Eric Boehm notes the growth of public-sector union members (which now represent a majority of union members nation-wide) and the decline of private union members in Pennsylvania. More…

Media

Read More: Growth of Government Unions in Pennsylvania

Taxes & Economy

Will Mandates Create “Green Jobs”?

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • February 8, 2010

Yes, to answer the question posed by the title, the state can mandate the creation of “green jobs” via alternative energy mandates – just as it…

Media

Read More: Will Mandates Create “Green Jobs”?