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
Will Tourism Collapse Without Taxpayer Subsidies?
Letter sent from the Commonwealth Foundation to Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of Tourism Mickey Rowley Dear Mr. Rowley: I am writing to respond to the Pennsylvania Tourism Office's recent…
Media
Read More: Will Tourism Collapse Without Taxpayer Subsidies?Education
Teachers Union vs. Taxpayers and Students (Draft)
The Blackhawk Education Association sparked ligation costing taxpayers in the Blackhawk School District over $160,000. The district was paying tutors the rate of substitute teachers, but the union had…
Media
Read More: Teachers Union vs. Taxpayers and Students (Draft)Education
Philadelphia Limits Choices for School Children
Brad Vasoli has a troubling article in The Bulletin about how the Philadelphia School District is trying to limit the enrollment of charter schools in the district. District officials…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia Limits Choices for School ChildrenTaxes & Economy
Will Government Motors be a Partisan Operation?
With the federal government taking control over Chrysler and GM, ill-conceived ideas are sure to ensue. The planned restructuring of GM (soon be renamed Government Motors?) is one…
Media
Read More: Will Government Motors be a Partisan Operation?Taxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to Reapply to Toll I-80
Tom Barnes in the Post-Gazette has a story on how some Pennsylvania lawmakers, who hail from nowhere near the I-80 corridor, want the Turnpike Commission to reapply to toll…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to Reapply to Toll I-80Health Care
Will Obama Embrace Real Health Care Reform?
Congressional Republicans unveiled an alternative health care reform proposal last week. Grace Marie Turner and Joseph Antos offer a glowing review of the plan. John Goodman offers a…
Media
Read More: Will Obama Embrace Real Health Care Reform?Taxes & Economy
Lose-Lose on Biofuels?
The American Magazine features an update on misguided ethanol and biofuel mandates, from a recent EPA report: While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analysis suggests that the switch…
Media
Read More: Lose-Lose on Biofuels?Taxes & Economy
“Taxing the Rich” Won’t Help Pennsylvania
The Wall Street Journal has an article today on how Maryland’s higher taxes on “the rich” drove millionaires to move to other states. Last week, the NY Post had…
Media
Read More: “Taxing the Rich” Won’t Help PennsylvaniaState Budget
Need to Review Speed Limits in PA?
The Tribune Review has an article today noting that Pennsylvania is one of few states, and the only one of our neighbors, that doesn’t have a speed limit greater…
Media
Read More: Need to Review Speed Limits in PA?Government Accountability
Texting While Driving: Everyone Does It, So Make it Illegal
A new study finds that 25% of individuals admit they send text messages while driving. Astonishingly, however, 83% want to make it illegal to do so. I am…
Media
Read More: Texting While Driving: Everyone Does It, So Make it IllegalGovernment Accountability
Conservative Intellectualism vs. Populism
The discussion between Jerry Taylor, Dan Mitchell, and Brink Lindsey on the Cato Institute blog (and NRO’s Corner) on Rush Limbaugh, tea parties, and conservative thought have been…
Media
Read More: Conservative Intellectualism vs. PopulismState Budget
Budget Hearings a Taxpayer-Funded Sham?
The Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee is holding hearings on the vesion of the state budget passed by the Senate (see here for more on that) today and tomorrow. Yet…
Media
Read More: Budget Hearings a Taxpayer-Funded Sham?State Budget
Pennsylvania Budget in Focus
The Commonwealth Foundation will be testifying on the state budget today. Here are some quick facts on the budget: PA Senate Budget by the Numbers Pennsylvania Deficit…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget in FocusGovernment Accountability
Judicial Selection Revisited
John Baer has an interesting column on judicial elections, noting that, when looking at a list of yesterday’s election winners, that “Nobody’s heard of these people” and cites a…
Media
Read More: Judicial Selection RevisitedTaxes & Economy
Why Government Can’t Run a Business
John Steele Gordon has a good op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on why government attempts to run a business always fall short – whether that be health care,…
Media
Read More: Why Government Can’t Run a BusinessHealth Care
Obama’s Health Care Plan
A good article in The American on health care costs, The initial tax hikes on the quarter-million-dollar club are projected to raise $318 billion over ten…
Media
Read More: Obama’s Health Care PlanTaxes & Economy
Higher Taxes in Store for Pennsylvania, Philadelphia?
The Associated Press has a story on the higher taxes that could be in store for Pennsylvanians. These include both the taxes proposed by Governor Rendell – on…
Media
Read More: Higher Taxes in Store for Pennsylvania, Philadelphia?State Budget
Video: “Driving” Federal Debt
Here is a great video explaining the growth in federal debt in an easy to understand metaphor – i.e. how fast presidents are driving. George W. Bush “drove” faster…
Media
Read More: Video: “Driving” Federal DebtEducation
Get the Quarter Back
There is an old joke, with many variations that goes something like this: a foreigner came to visit a friend in America, and they went to watch a Pittsburgh Steelers…
Commentary
Read More: Get the Quarter BackEducation
Does Universal Preschool Improve Learning?
The Heritage Foundation has a new backgrounder asking, “Does Universal Preschool Improve Learning?” The short answer is NO. For the long answer, they examine universal preschool programs…
Media
Read More: Does Universal Preschool Improve Learning?Government Accountability
Follow Pennsylvania State Government on Twitter
Twitter is a good way to keep tabs on what is happening in Harrisburg on the state budget and other policy issues. For those who are unfamiliar with Twitter,…
Media
Read More: Follow Pennsylvania State Government on Twitter