Nathan Benefield
Chief Policy Officer
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 Chief Policy Officer , 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
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Who Signed No Taxes Pledge
Twenty-nine Pennsylvania Legislators have signed American for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge, including six Democrats. Click here to see exactly what they pledged not to do. Assuming politicians…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Lawmakers Who Signed No Taxes PledgeHealth Care
Get Informed and Active on Health Care Reform
On multiple occasions, we have suggested, or passed along the advice of others saying the same, that Republicans, conservatives, libertarians, and free market advocates need to get serious…
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Read More: Get Informed and Active on Health Care ReformGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Still Using Tax Dollars to Buy Votes
Mark Levy of the AP has a hard hitting story of Pennsylvania lawmakers use of WAMs – i.e. “Walking Around Money” made available to us at the discretion of legislative…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Lawmakers Still Using Tax Dollars to Buy VotesRegulation
Thumbs Down on Film Tax Credit
The Patriot News has a scathing editorial against Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit. Here is the deathblow: A closer look at the “motion picture industry” employment statistics(cited in…
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Read More: Thumbs Down on Film Tax CreditGovernment Accountability
State Spending Transparency Hearing
FYI by PLS has a brief summary of a hearing yesterday on proposals to create a state spending transparency for Pennsylvania, with particular attention paid to HB 1460…
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Read More: State Spending Transparency HearingTaxes & Economy
Axe Taxes Not Jobs
Here is a pretty cool site, with info based on your location, primarily on alcohol and liquor taxes.
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Read More: Axe Taxes Not JobsState Budget
Cash for Rich People Who Drive Hummers
It is pretty clear that the Cash for Clunkers proposal is a dumb idea to intervene government in the economy and distort the market (or as Charlie Dent…
Media
Read More: Cash for Rich People Who Drive HummersTaxes & Economy
Liberals Who OpposeTax Hikes During Recession
Pennsylvania Gov. Rendell renewed his call for higher taxes today, claiming it was ludicrous to think higher taxes would cost jobs. Who would argue with that? Well certainly…
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Read More: Liberals Who OpposeTax Hikes During RecessionRegulation
Another $1.3 Billion In Cuts for Governor Rendell
At the cabinet meeting yesterday (which the Commonwealth Foundation was escorted out of by security, being told it was a “closed meeting”, while media and staff for the PA…
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Read More: Another $1.3 Billion In Cuts for Governor RendellTaxes & Economy
Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest Winners
First Place: $2,500“Taxesâ€? by Colin Jones, Bethel Park PA (watch for a cameo from “Governor Rendell”) Second Place: $1,000“Where’d My Paycheck Go?â€? by Robert Madeley, Mohnton PA…
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Read More: Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest WinnersRegulation
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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.
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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…
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Read More: Voters Want More School Funding – Until They Get the Facts