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.”

Education

Is Gov. Rendell “for the Kids” at All?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2009

On Friday, the REACH Foundation hosted a rally at the state capitol in defense of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit, which…

Media

Read More: Is Gov. Rendell “for the Kids” at All?

State Budget

PA Budget Deal Undone?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2009

It would seem that the reported Pennsylvania state budget ‘deal’ is in jeopardy: GrassrootsPA reports at least 5 Senate Republicans will…

Media

Read More: PA Budget Deal Undone?

Government Accountability

Weekly Blog Roundup

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 27, 2009

Here are some of the latest bloggers citing Commonwealth Foundation work: PA Water Cooler highlights our look into how much state money ACORN is getting and on Matt Brouillette’s…

Media

Read More: Weekly Blog Roundup

Taxes & Economy

Two New State Business Climate Rankings

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2009

The Tax Foundation released their updated State Business Tax Climate Index for FY 2010. In the latest rendition, Pennsylvania ranks 27th overall. Broken down by category the Keystone State…

Media

Read More: Two New State Business Climate Rankings

State Budget

Higher Taxes to Buy More Nintendo Wii’s?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2009

A PA House GOP staffer dug up this little item of pork barrel spending, courtesy State Representative Jesse White: The Wii challenge came about after I helped…

Media

Read More: Higher Taxes to Buy More Nintendo Wii’s?

Health Care

More Health Care Lessons from Massachusetts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 24, 2009

My colleague Joe Sterns sent me an article, in which Mitt Romney again declares Massachusetts health care reform a success, claiming the increase in taxpayer spending was “only” $700…

Media

Read More: More Health Care Lessons from Massachusetts

Government Accountability

The Continuing Saga of Corruption and Patronage in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 24, 2009

Another of former Senator Fumo’s aides was indicted yesterday, for taking contracts from the Pennsylvania Senate, but doing no work – except favors to Sen. Fumo.  Of course, Palermo…

Media

Read More: The Continuing Saga of Corruption and Patronage in Pennsylvania

Government Accountability

How did the PA Budget Process Get So Broken?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2009

Dale Davenport had an excellent editorial in the Patriot over the weekend, noting how annual budgeting and the move to a full-time, professional legislature altereed Pennsylvania’s state budget forever: …

Media

Read More: How did the PA Budget Process Get So Broken?

State Budget

Understanding the Single Sales Factor

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2009

Philly.com Blogger Ben Waxman has a post about moving Pennsylvania to a single-sales factor on corporate income taxes, calling it a “big tax break for corporations”, based on…

Media

Read More: Understanding the Single Sales Factor

State Budget

Stupid Quote of the Day

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2009

Sen. Jake Corman tells the Associated Press that a proposal to charge the sales tax to performing arts and museums is a “user fee”: A plan to extend…

Media

Read More: Stupid Quote of the Day

Government Accountability

Scare Tactics in the Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 22, 2009

John Baer writes – albeit a bit late – on how politicians use scare tactics, i.e. the “Washington Monument Ploy” to…

Media

Read More: Scare Tactics in the Budget

Health Care

Not-True Statements about Health Insurers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 22, 2009

I’ve already picked on the left-wing Keystone Progress this week for absurd statements, but I got another missive from them on…

Media

Read More: Not-True Statements about Health Insurers

Health Care

When a Tax Isn’t a Tax

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 21, 2009

In a post this morning, I criticized PA Senate Republicans for their loose definition of “broad-based taxes” with an emphasis on “broad…

Media

Read More: When a Tax Isn’t a Tax

Taxes & Economy

When Did you Stop Beating Your Wife?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 21, 2009

In a vote last week, the Pennsylvania House voted to increase the marriage license fee from $3 to $28 – only the increase was to be used for “domestic…

Media

Read More: When Did you Stop Beating Your Wife?

State Budget

What the Heck is a “Broad-Based Tax”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 21, 2009

Last week Matt Brouillette called out Senate Republicans for moving toward a budget deal with higher taxes, backing off their line in the…

Media

Read More: What the Heck is a “Broad-Based Tax”?

Government Accountability

Blog Roundup

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 21, 2009

The Commonwealth Foundation has made it around the blogs this weekend; here are some recent citations: Tony Phyrillas, PA Water Cooler, and Pennsylvania Guardian give us some…

Media

Read More: Blog Roundup

State Budget

Taxes and Revenue in Pennsylvania Budget Deal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 19, 2009

Gov. Rendell and legislative leaders from three caucuses (House Republicans were not involved) announced a deal on the Pennsylvania state budget.  Via PLS and Capitolwire (subscription), here…

Media

Read More: Taxes and Revenue in Pennsylvania Budget Deal

Health Care

Evaluating the Baucus Health Care Proposal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 18, 2009

The latest “leading” national health care reform proposal is a bill Sen. Baucus (already being panned by the left for getting rid of the “public option” and replacing it with…

Media

Read More: Evaluating the Baucus Health Care Proposal

Regulation

PA Senate Votes to Raise Taxes Now and In the Future

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 17, 2009

The Pennsylvania Senate this afternoon gave their approval to the municipal pension “reform” bill, even after the House stripped out almost all of the weak reforms. The legislation was…

Media

Read More: PA Senate Votes to Raise Taxes Now and In the Future

Taxes & Economy

Stimulus Didn’t Stimulate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 17, 2009

Interesting piece in the Wall Street Journal by three economists on the effects of the federal “stimulus” to date.  The authors find, not suprisingly, that the stimulus has not…

Media

Read More: Stimulus Didn’t Stimulate