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.”
Regulation
Film Tax Credit Study Produced by Hollywood Consultants
One of our PolicyBlog readers sent us a note that the researchers contracted to do the study of the Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit (click here for our comments on…
Media
Read More: Film Tax Credit Study Produced by Hollywood ConsultantsTaxes & Economy
Why 16% Tax Increase Would Cost Pennsylvania 24,000 Jobs
I’ve gotten a couple of question on the “how” and “why” we estimate that Rendell’s personal income tax increase will cost 24,000 Pennsylvania jobs. The estimate of 24,000 jobs…
Media
Read More: Why 16% Tax Increase Would Cost Pennsylvania 24,000 JobsTaxes & Economy
Gov. Rendell Proposes Firing 24,000 Pennsylvania Workers
Governor Rendell announced today that to satisfy his appetite for more spending, he would like to increase Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax (PIT) by 0.5 percentage points – to…
Media
Read More: Gov. Rendell Proposes Firing 24,000 Pennsylvania WorkersHealth Care
What not to like about ObamaCare
The Cato Institute has a recent publication out highlighting “Seven Bad Ideas” of President Obama’s health care plan. Here are some more on two of those bad ideas: Paying…
Media
Read More: What not to like about ObamaCareGovernment Accountability
Will Rendell’s Closed-Door Cabinet Meeting Violate Sunshine Law?
Today, Governor Rendell announced an “emergency cabinet meeting” to discuss the state budget, and state the meeting will be closed to the public. But wouldn’t such a closed-door…
Media
Read More: Will Rendell’s Closed-Door Cabinet Meeting Violate Sunshine Law?Regulation
Growing Pennsylvania’s Economy
A coalition of business groups released their proposals aimed at improving Pennsylvania’s economic climate. Among the top of their list were state spending limits, lower business taxes, health care reform,…
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Read More: Growing Pennsylvania’s Economy
Can We Sell our GM Shares?
Imagine if I told you that my stockbroker told me I should invest in a failing company, and I told him not to. My stockbroker then invested in the company…
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Read More: Can We Sell our GM Shares?Education
Salaries for Pennsylvania Teachers and School Employees Online
Stop Teacher Strikes has posted the 2007-08 salary information (collected by Asbury Park Press) for 195,000 Pennsylvania teachers and school employees, searchable by name, district, or position…
Media
Read More: Salaries for Pennsylvania Teachers and School Employees OnlineState Budget
Rendell’s propaganda machine
Brad Bumsted’s latest column wraps up some of the more absurd rhetoric coming from the Rendell administration about the Senate version of the Pennsylvania budget: The bill…
Media
Read More: Rendell’s propaganda machineTaxes & Economy
“Stimulus” Kills Pennsylvania Steel Jobs
Redstate notes how the “buy American” provision of the so-called stimulus bill is already putting some Pennsylvania’s out of of work. See the original Canadian Press article here.
Media
Read More: “Stimulus” Kills Pennsylvania Steel JobsEducation
Voters Want More School Funding – Until They Get the Facts
For followers of the Rendell “Tax You More Bus Tour” and the debate on education funding, I would recommend checking out this analysis from Education Next: The…
Media
Read More: Voters Want More School Funding – Until They Get the FactsEducation
Public Schools’ Edifice Complex
John Micek and I (@NathanBenefield) had a little discussion via Twitter over the cost of public school buildings. John wonders what is wrong with having nice school…
Media
Read More: Public Schools’ Edifice ComplexState Budget
Gov. Rendell Calls the Kettle Black
The Sun-Gazette has a recent article on the Pennsylvania state budget titled “Rendell lashes out at Senate plan”. It didn’t sound like something that would surprise me – but…
Media
Read More: Gov. Rendell Calls the Kettle BlackHealth Care
Warmed-Over RendellCare Includes a New Tax on Health Insurance
The Pennsylvania State House has been debating HB 1, which would expand the state’s Adult Basic program, to make more individuals eligible for government health care. The Commonwealth Foundation…
Media
Read More: Warmed-Over RendellCare Includes a New Tax on Health InsuranceState Budget
Do PA Democrats Really Want Higher Taxes? Probably Not.
While Gov. Rendell and House Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans are talking up a potential increase in Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax, some of the rank and file Democrats are…
Media
Read More: Do PA Democrats Really Want Higher Taxes? Probably Not.Government Accountability
Two Cheers for Transparency
Good read on transparency effort in state government by Larry Reed in the latest issue of the Freeman.
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Read More: Two Cheers for Transparency
Blog Posts from the Taxpayer Capitol Protest
Here is a brief roundup of some blog posts from today’s taxpayer protest from the Pennsylvania state capitol…
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Read More: Blog Posts from the Taxpayer Capitol ProtestEducation
Fact Check: PA Cannot Spend Its Way to Educational Success
Today the Pennsylvania Department of Education begins day 2 of their “Tax You More” bus tour. Education officials continue to call for more spending when in…
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Read More: Fact Check: PA Cannot Spend Its Way to Educational SuccessTaxes & Economy
Cap and Trade: An Energy Tax
Pretty good video from American Solutions on Cap and Trade. They also have a place on their site to take action.
Media
Read More: Cap and Trade: An Energy TaxEducation
Bob Casey Still Needs to Read the Stimulus Bill
Sen. Bob Casey – in remarks designed to counter the facts laid out by the Commonwealth Foundation, namely that Pennsylvania school districts will get a dramatic increase in…
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Read More: Bob Casey Still Needs to Read the Stimulus BillRegulation
Why Corporate Welfare Fails
Tad Dehaven has a worthwhile read on the Cato Institute's blog about why state corporate welfare subsidies make good politics, but bad economics: Instead of competing with…
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Read More: Why Corporate Welfare Fails