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
Penn State to Launch Inquiry in “Climategate”
Penn State University is going to “look into” the emails from and about university professor Michael Mann, which indicate, among other things,…
Media
Read More: Penn State to Launch Inquiry in “Climategate”Education
Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?
With Pittsburgh on the brink of bankruptcy thanks to its continual out-of-control spending, Mayor Ravenstahl and his allies on City Council have hatched a new scheme to collect more money…
Commentary
Read More: Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?Government Accountability
Pennsylvania Spent $4 Million in Taxpayer Funded Lobbying
The Tribune Review gives a strong exposé on why taxpayers continue to lose – Pennsylvania state and local governments spent $4 million to lobby the federal and state government…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Spent $4 Million in Taxpayer Funded LobbyingTaxes & Economy
Congress Working on “[Save Their Own] Jobs” Bill
With jobs losses continuing to mount, Congress is considering a third economic “stimulus” (pundits often ignore the Bush stimulus of 2008) in…
Media
Read More: Congress Working on “[Save Their Own] Jobs” BillState Budget
Pennsylvania Lawmakers to End Calendar Givewaways
ABC 27 reports that both the Pennsylvania House and Senate will not be printing calendars to give away this year (which typically featured a “courtesy of Rep. Name”) sticker.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Lawmakers to End Calendar GivewawaysHealth Care
US Senate’s Turkey of a Health Care Bill
The Association of Physician and Surgeons has a one-page handout on some number and facts about the latest Senate health care bill.
Media
Read More: US Senate’s Turkey of a Health Care BillTaxes & Economy
Jobs “Created or Saved” is Obama’s “Mission Accomplished”
Much mockery has been made of the reported “jobs created or saved” by the stimulus package – from jobs created in Congressional districts that don’t exist to the…
Media
Read More: Jobs “Created or Saved” is Obama’s “Mission Accomplished”Health Care
Health Care Reform: The Constitution, the Bible, and Economics
My prepared remarks to the “Million Med March” in Harrisburg Thank you. Good afternoon. Thanks for everyone here for coming out – I know none of us really want to…
Media
Read More: Health Care Reform: The Constitution, the Bible, and EconomicsPublic Union Democracy
State Tax Trends
ATR has a new report on state tax trends. In addition to a roundup of state tax changes, the new report highlights trends with policy implications. While we pointed…
Media
Read More: State Tax TrendsGovernment Accountability
What Next for “Tea Party” Activists?
Following the recent “Taxpayers March on Harrisburg,” as well as recent health care protests in Washington DC and elsewhere, a grassroots organizer posed the question, “what should we do now?”…
Media
Read More: What Next for “Tea Party” Activists?Health Care
Guide to Harry Reid’s Health Care Bill
Yesterday, US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid put forth a new, 2,074 page health care reform bill. The Senate is expected to vote on it in the next few days.
Media
Read More: Guide to Harry Reid’s Health Care BillTaxes & Economy
Has George W. Bush Seen the Light?
Ever since former president George W. Bush unveiled plans for the new presidential center in his name which would focus on fiscal restraint, he has faced fair amount of…
Media
Read More: Has George W. Bush Seen the Light?Government Accountability
Will State Lawmakers Take a Pay Cut?
As many readers will be aware, Pennsylvania lawmakers, judges, and executive branch officials receive an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), using the CPI for Philadelphia as the measure for inflation. What…
Media
Read More: Will State Lawmakers Take a Pay Cut?Taxes & Economy
Increased Unemployment Benefits = Increased Unemployment
Alan Reynolds outlines a very basic economic concept: longer limits (and increased benefits) for taxpayer-funded unemployment compensation – as was mandated in the federal stimulus, and repeated by Congress…
Media
Read More: Increased Unemployment Benefits = Increased UnemploymentPublic Union Democracy
New Video: UPS vs. FedEx & Unions
Reason TV has a new video explaining the intense lobbying between UPS and FedEx, in which UPS is calling for FedEx to be covered under the National Labor Relations…
Media
Read More: New Video: UPS vs. FedEx & UnionsHealth Care
Congressional Candidates, Pay Attention on Health Care Debate
WFMZ features a story on a health care protest outside Congressman Charlie Dent’s office, featuring Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, who is also challenging Dent (HT Grassroots PA). Callahan…
Media
Read More: Congressional Candidates, Pay Attention on Health Care Debate
CF in the Blogs
Here are some recent CF mentions in the blogosphere PointOfLaw.com and National Review Online – feature a CF preview of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court election Seen Through…
Media
Read More: CF in the BlogsGovernment Accountability
Majority of Union Members are now Government Employees
The Heritage Foundation points out an interesting fact – 51% of union members are government workers, according to the most recent data, an all-time high. And I assumed General…
Media
Read More: Majority of Union Members are now Government EmployeesGovernment Accountability
Best and Worst Bonusgate Quotes
Following the indictment of 10 State House Republicans (a current lawmaker and a former lawmaker and 8 staff), the Pennsylvania Capitol has been abuzz (click here for a…
Media
Read More: Best and Worst Bonusgate QuotesTaxes & Economy
The Economic Ignorance of “Fewer Jobs Lost”
Many pundits, members of the media, and elected officials (or their spokesman), cite employment data showing “fewer jobs lost” in October (or in the case of the state, September)…
Media
Read More: The Economic Ignorance of “Fewer Jobs Lost”Taxes & Economy
Philadelphia to Count Illegal Immigrants to Get More Taxpayer Funds
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has issued an executive order to stop city officials from asking immigration status for the express purpose of boosting the city’s population in the Census,…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia to Count Illegal Immigrants to Get More Taxpayer Funds