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.”
Taxes & Economy
Polling on Tea Parties
Rasmussen has an interesting poll on people’s attitudes toward recent tea parties (top line results), finding that 51% of respondents have favorable views of Tea Parties (vs 33%…
Media
Read More: Polling on Tea PartiesTaxes & Economy
The Un-Silent Majority
Nearly 10,000 Pennsylvanians rallied on Tax Day, April 15th, against wasteful government spending, high and rising taxes, and burgeoning government debt and deficits. The nonpartisan, anti-establishment “Tea Parties” were held…
Commentary
Read More: The Un-Silent MajorityState Budget
Murtha Gets Earmark for Murtha Airport
This has been making the rounds, but the Washington Post has a detailed article about how Congressman Jack Murtha has gotten hundreds of millions of dollars over the years,…
Media
Read More: Murtha Gets Earmark for Murtha AirportRegulation
Privatizing PA’s Liquor Stores
State Sen. Rob Wonderling is starting again to push for the privatization of Pennsylvania’s state-owned liquor stores. Here is Sen. Wonderling’s commentary on privatizing the state stores from…
Media
Read More: Privatizing PA’s Liquor StoresGovernment Accountability
Government Spending Databases are Cheap
The Mercatus Center has a new analysis on the cost of state spending databases showing that it typically costs far less to produce online websites tracking government spending than…
Media
Read More: Government Spending Databases are CheapGovernment Accountability
Schroder Bills to Save PA Taxpayers Over $600 Million
State Rep. Curt Schroder has unveiled a number of legislative proposals which, by his estimates would save Pennsylvania taxpayers well over $600 million annually. House Bill 1056…
Media
Read More: Schroder Bills to Save PA Taxpayers Over $600 MillionTaxes & Economy
Even more on taxes, spending, and the stimulus
Americans for Tax Reform has a new fact page on “Tax Bites” – showing how much taxes take up for the cost of goods and services we buy, from…
Media
Read More: Even more on taxes, spending, and the stimulusHealth Care
Facts About the Uninsured
Keith Hennessey has a great post breaking down the number of people lacking health insurance, finding that only a small number of the reported 46 million uninsured are those…
Media
Read More: Facts About the UninsuredTaxes & Economy
More on Taxes, Taxes, Taxes
The Tax Foundation has released a recent poll on voters’ attitudes toward taxes. Not surprisingly, 56% say that taxes are “too high” (vs. 2% saying they are too low). …
Media
Read More: More on Taxes, Taxes, TaxesTaxes & Economy
Harrisburg Tea Party Attracts Estimated 2000
An estimated 2,000 protesters showed up for the tea party in Harrisburg. Not only was the crowd impressive, but the number of food items collected for Bethesda…
Media
Read More: Harrisburg Tea Party Attracts Estimated 2000Taxes & Economy
Taxes, Taxes, Taxes
Here are some good resources on taxes: 1) Freedomworks has a new site, Scrap the Code, highlighting the flaws in the complex tax code, and calling for a simpler…
Media
Read More: Taxes, Taxes, TaxesTaxes & Economy
Twenty-seven Pennsylvania Cities to Host Tea Parties
By my count, 27 cities will be hosting “tea parties” tomorrow, April 15, in protest of high taxes and wasteful government spending (an additional five events will be taking…
Media
Read More: Twenty-seven Pennsylvania Cities to Host Tea PartiesTaxes & Economy
State Spending Binges
The latest Reason Magazine has a fine article on why state governments needed a bailout and why they will again – overspending. In 2002 the National…
Media
Read More: State Spending BingesTaxes & Economy
Tax Freedom Day 2009
Circle April 14th on your calendar this year as Tax Freedom Day for Pennsylvania. While tomorrow is the deadline for filing income tax forms, today is the day Pennsylvanians can…
Commentary
Read More: Tax Freedom Day 2009
Rendell Announces Property Tax “Relief”
Gov. Rendell today announced an estimated $770 million in property tax “relief” from slots revenue, or about $200 per homeowner. As always, I put “relief” in quotes because the…
Media
Read More: Rendell Announces Property Tax “Relief”Education
Are Lawmakers Considering “Other Options” on Scotland School?
Several state lawmakers and parents are protesting Governor Rendell’s proposed closing of Scotland School (HT GrassrootsPA) – a school ostensibly for children of veterans – claiming we must…
Media
Read More: Are Lawmakers Considering “Other Options” on Scotland School?Education
Are Lawmakers Considering “Other Options” on Scotland School?
Several state lawmakers and parents are protesting Governor Rendell’s proposed closing of Scotland School (HT GrassrootsPA) – a school ostensibly for children of veterans – claiming we must…
Media
Read More: Are Lawmakers Considering “Other Options” on Scotland School?Education
Charter Schools Always Face a Financial Struggle
Kevin Ferris has a piece in the Wall Street Journal on the difficulty that charter schools face funding their facilities. Ferris uses as his case study First Philadelphia Charter…
Media
Read More: Charter Schools Always Face a Financial StruggleHealth Care
Is Health Care a ‘Right’?
Many advocates of a single-payer, government run health care system use the argument that “health care is a right.” But as John Graham points out on State House Call,…
Media
Read More: Is Health Care a ‘Right’?Taxes & Economy
Thousands Attend Pittsburgh Tea Party
The Tribune Review reports that several thousand protesters showed up to the Pittsburgh Tea Party held today (HT GrassrootsPA). Instapundit has more, including a picture…
Media
Read More: Thousands Attend Pittsburgh Tea PartyRegulation
Pennsylvania Pie Fight
Wall Street Journal picks up on the fight over government regulation of homemade pies at church bake sales in Pennsylvania. My favorite part of the story is this:…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Pie Fight