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
Harley Davidson and the Problem with Corporate Welfare
Harley Davidson’s announcement that they may shut down their plant in York illustrates the problem with taxpayer funded corporate welfare. For starters, Harley Davidson has received $4.3 million…
Media
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PUC Commissioners Oppose Cap and Trade
The Vice Chairman and two other Commissioners of the Pennsylvania Utility Commission sent a letter to the PA Congressional Delegation in opposition to proposed cap and trade legislation. …
Media
Read More: PUC Commissioners Oppose Cap and TradeTaxes & Economy
Those Corporate Tax “Loopholes”
Robert Samuelson has an outstanding piece in the Washington Post, exposing many of the myths exposed by Obama’s plan to crack down on “corporate loopholes”.
Media
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The Worst Bailout in the World?
Ultra left-wing demagogue Keith Olbermann has a segment in which he calls out the “Worst Person in the World” – usually anyone speaking out rationally against Olbermann’s views will win…
Media
Read More: The Worst Bailout in the World?Education
PA School Districts to Get 12% Increase in Support
Despite all the whining about budget cuts from the Rendell Administration (even though Rendell demanded there be “no whining”), Pennsylvania school districts are set to get substantially more…
Media
Read More: PA School Districts to Get 12% Increase in SupportHealth Care
Obama’s Health Care Quackery
Shikha Dalmia has a piece on Reason.com discussing the falacy that “universal health care.” The Obama plan would in fact, move the US closer to European countries, Canada, and…
Media
Read More: Obama’s Health Care QuackeryState Budget
Pennsylvania Budget by Department Under Rendell
Critics (mainly, recipients of taxpayer funds) of the budget passed by the Pennsylvania Senate last week decry it for cutting spending, claiming it is “jeopardizing access to hospital care…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget by Department Under RendellRegulation
Trying to Fight Unfunded Mandates? Go Directly to Jail.
Township Supervisors in Cromwell Township (Huntington County) are fighting a mandate from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to install a public sewer system. The supervisors claim such a system…
Media
Read More: Trying to Fight Unfunded Mandates? Go Directly to Jail.Regulation
What Cap and Trade Will Cost
A Heritage Foundation analysis finds that proposed “Cap and Trade” legislation will cost the average American family $3,900 per year. The chart to the left compares the cost…
Media
Read More: What Cap and Trade Will CostHealth Care
Satisfaction with Health Care: U.S. v Canada
John Lott has some interesting research on the satisfaction of U.S. and Canadians on their health care. The primary finding of his study (downloadable here), is that Canadians…
Media
Read More: Satisfaction with Health Care: U.S. v CanadaTaxes & Economy
What Are They Drinking in DC?
Ok, this is getting pathetic. I was going to ridicule Obama’s proposal to cut $17 billion from the federal budget, just as I ridiculed his previous proposal to cut…
Media
Read More: What Are They Drinking in DC?Regulation
Will Pennsylvanians Starve Without Farm Subsidies?
Some early criticism coming from the Rendell administration about the Senate budget is that cuts to the Department of Agriculture will result in less farming and possibly event mass…
Media
Read More: Will Pennsylvanians Starve Without Farm Subsidies?Public Union Democracy
McGovern on Card Check
Former Senator and Presidential nominee George McGovern – and though I hate the cheap labels used by the media, they would probably call him an “ultra-liberal” – writes in…
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Read More: McGovern on Card CheckTaxes & Economy
Specter on Curing Cancer
The Wall Street Journal takes Sen. Arlen Specter to task for claiming Jack Kemp would still be alive if only taxpayers spent more on cancer research. Not only for…
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Read More: Specter on Curing CancerGovernment Accountability
Shining Some Light on Pennsylvania Spending
Kevin Ferris has a good piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer on proposals to create online databases of state spending in Pennsylvania, as well as the success of other states…
Media
Read More: Shining Some Light on Pennsylvania SpendingEducation
Saving School Choice (and Savings of School Choice)
Great new video from ReasonTV on the DC Voucher program, and the threats to eliminate it, despite a US Department of Education report that it helps improves student learning…
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Read More: Saving School Choice (and Savings of School Choice)Regulation
Allegheny Power Looks to Keep Prices Down
Pittsburgh Tribune Review has a story on Allegheny Power buying additional electric power cheaply on the wholesale market, while…
Media
Read More: Allegheny Power Looks to Keep Prices DownTaxes & Economy
PA Senate Budget by the Numbers
Jake Corman, PA Senate Appropriations Chairman, has introduced the Senate Republicans version of the state budget (SB 850). The $27.3 billion General Fund budget represents a $1.7 billion reduction…
Media
Read More: PA Senate Budget by the NumbersRegulation
Stimulus Money to Help Deal with Pension Crisis?
A number of Pennsylvania House Republicans are proposing using a portion of the federal stimulus money to pay into PSERS, the retirement fund for school employees. The $435 million…
Media
Read More: Stimulus Money to Help Deal with Pension Crisis?Taxes & Economy
Obama’s New Business Tax Scheme
President Obama is set to unveil a plan to crack down on cabinet members corporations that, in his view, are avoiding paying their share in taxes. Basically the plan…
Media
Read More: Obama’s New Business Tax SchemeEducation
Weighted Student Funding Formula
Reason Foundation has a new yearbook and resources on weighted student funding. Weighted student funding is a way for school districts, and states, to fund students instead of school…
Media
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