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.”
Health Care
My Message to Congress on Health Care Reform
I just uploaded my video message to Congress on health care reform. This is part of a project of the National Taxpayers Union, who is preparing DVDs…
Media
Read More: My Message to Congress on Health Care ReformState Budget
100 Days Without a Budget and We’re Still Alive!
The budget impasse has been analogized and analyzed to death in the past couple months. It’s rich fodder for politico pundits and reporters. Some have compared it to a…
Media
Read More: 100 Days Without a Budget and We’re Still Alive!Government Accountability
Shrink or Grow the Size of Legislature
NCSL’s blog, The Thicket, has a post up about debating reducing or growing the size of the legislature. Pennsylvania serves on the shrinking size, as that is an oft-cited…
Media
Read More: Shrink or Grow the Size of LegislatureState Budget
PA House Votes to De-fund ACORN
In addition to concurring with the tax hikes previously approved by the Senate, the Pennsylvania House voted earlier today 157-42 in favor of an amendment to HB 1407…
Media
Read More: PA House Votes to De-fund ACORN
Who’s Blogging About Us
Here are some recent blogs mentions Commonwealth Foundation work: Open Market, The Truth about PLAs, and The Truth About EFCA all comment on the…
Media
Read More: Who’s Blogging About UsRegulation
More Info on What WAMS are in PA Budget
The news service Capitolwire (subscription) has new information about the debate on WAMs in the budget, including a secret memo – disclaimed by all sides – explaining which…
Media
Read More: More Info on What WAMS are in PA BudgetState Budget
House Democrats Help Identify More WAMs
PA House Democrat leader Todd Eachus and Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans sent a letter to Gov. Rendell decrying the inclusion of $12 million in WAMs in the latest Senate…
Media
Read More: House Democrats Help Identify More WAMsState Budget
The Totally Different Pennsylvania Budget Deal
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Senate decided they were going to go their own way on the state budget, angered at House Democrat’s…
Media
Read More: The Totally Different Pennsylvania Budget DealRegulation
An Honest Debate About State Spending
Throughout the budget process, Rendell has used this same tactic, called a "Washington Monument" ploy. From claiming education would be set back decades, to asserting state police would have to…
Commentary
Read More: An Honest Debate About State SpendingState Budget
PA House Approves More Debt for Pork
Lost in the shuffle over the Pennsylvania state (operating) budget was a vote over the weekend over the state capital budget, which was approved by the Pennsylvania House. The…
Media
Read More: PA House Approves More Debt for PorkState Budget
“Big Helicopter” and Big Hollywood
While debating their myriad of tax increases (which was eventually approved by the chamber), Pennsylvania House Democrats continued to demonize “Big…
Media
Read More: “Big Helicopter” and Big HollywoodEducation
Calls to Action on Protecting School Choice in Pennsylvania
As reported earlier, the tax bill put out by Pennsylvania House Democrats would cut the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit by…
Media
Read More: Calls to Action on Protecting School Choice in PennsylvaniaState Budget
What’s in the PA House Democrats Tax Bill?
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House Rules Committee approved a “gut-and-replace” amendment to HB 1531 – which had previously been a bill to extend tax relief for military families – which…
Media
Read More: What’s in the PA House Democrats Tax Bill?State Budget
Pennsylvania Revenue Collections Fall Short Again
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released their revenue estimates for September. The collections were $119 million below estimates for the month, and $300 million less than collected one year…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Revenue Collections Fall Short AgainTaxes & Economy
Tax Cuts, Not Government Spending, Good for Economic Growth
There is a good piece in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal on the effect of government spending on economic growth. The conclusion is that government spending does not “stimulate” the…
Media
Read More: Tax Cuts, Not Government Spending, Good for Economic GrowthRegulation
Why State Government Shouldn’t “Invest” Taxpayer Money
There have been countless examples of failed corporate welfare under Governor Rendell, and Governor Ridge before him. The latest example coming from Lebanon, PA: Lebanon Daily News, August 14,…
Media
Read More: Why State Government Shouldn’t “Invest” Taxpayer MoneyState Budget
Governing “Responsibly”
Lowman Henry has another good commentary on the Pennsylvania state budget “deal” over at PA Town Hall: I find it interesting that when Democrats stick to…
Media
Read More: Governing “Responsibly”State Budget
Pennsylvania Budget Deal Appears Dead
The news service Capitolwire (subscribers only) is reporting that PA House Democrat leaders are admitting they don’t have enough votes to pass the state budget deal, give all of…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Deal Appears DeadState Budget
An Honest Budget Debate
Gov. Rendell and many lawmakers continue to push higher taxes in Pennsylvania, using the rhetoric that if we don’t, students won’t learn,…
Media
Read More: An Honest Budget DebateHealth Care
States to Challenge Individual Mandate
The New York Times has a story on state legislators pushing back against the individual mandate that could be a part of health care reform. Health Care Horse…
Media
Read More: States to Challenge Individual Mandate
Property Taxes by State
The Tax Foundation put out a new map of property taxes by state for owner-occupied homes. Pennsylvania ranks 11th highest, with the average tax rate of 1.34% of home…
Media
Read More: Property Taxes by State