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
Natural Gas Lease Falls Through – PA Loses $31 Million in Revenue (and Jobs)
The AP is reporting that a natural gas firm, previously agreeing to pay $31 million for a lease of lands in the Marcellus Shale formation, has backed out of…
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Read More: Natural Gas Lease Falls Through – PA Loses $31 Million in Revenue (and Jobs)Taxes & Economy
PA Earns 1 ‘A’, 12 ‘Fs’ on Taxpayer Organization Congressional Grades
The National Taxpayer’s Union (NTU) has released their annual report card for Congress for 2008, giving a record number of members the ignominious title “Big Spender”, including 12 members…
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Read More: PA Earns 1 ‘A’, 12 ‘Fs’ on Taxpayer Organization Congressional GradesTaxes & Economy
Which Tax Cuts Have Stimulated the Economy?
“‘We tried that, and it didn’t work,’ Obama and his partisans sneer in response to arguments that tax cuts are the key to restoring economic growth.” But as Peter…
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Read More: Which Tax Cuts Have Stimulated the Economy?Taxes & Economy
Video: Understanding The Financial Crisis
Great (and frightening) video from Stop Spending Our Future on the costs of “fixing” the financial crisis.
Media
Read More: Video: Understanding The Financial CrisisTaxes & Economy
Philadelphia Tries to Stop Tea Party
UPDATE: Victory ‘Thanks for everyone’s help in putting pressure on the city of Philadelphia! The problem has been resolved. They tea party is only required to pay for…
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Read More: Philadelphia Tries to Stop Tea Party
Former Manager Sues PA Turnpike Commission for Political Firing
A former manager for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is suing the agency for wrongful firing, claiming he was let go because of his lack of political connectaions, the Post-Gazette…
Media
Read More: Former Manager Sues PA Turnpike Commission for Political FiringEducation
Vouching for D.C.
A new report from the US Department of Education finds the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program has been extremely successful. Matthew Ladner has more in NRO on the reports…
Media
Read More: Vouching for D.C.Government Accountability
Pennsylvania’s Lawsuit Racket
The Wall Street Journal has a scathing piece on pay-to-play politics in Harrisburg, specifically in relation to Gov. Rendell and his ties to another law-firm (HT John Lott):…
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Read More: Pennsylvania’s Lawsuit RacketTaxes & Economy
Big Business Still Loves Big Government
HT to Joe Collins for pointing me to Timothy Carney’s article in the Washington Examiner. Despite the oft-repeated rhetoric that free market advocates are the puppets of big…
Media
Read More: Big Business Still Loves Big GovernmentRegulation
Federal Cigarette Tax Increase will Reduce PA Tax Collections by $140 Million
A new report from the Tax Foundation looks at the cost of the recent federal tax hike on cigarettes, an increase of 39 cents to $1.01 per pack, state…
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Read More: Federal Cigarette Tax Increase will Reduce PA Tax Collections by $140 MillionGovernment Accountability
PA House GOP Leader Offers Gov’t Reform Plan
Pennsylvania House Republican leader Sam Smith unveiled a 12-point government reform plan which he calls Pennsylvania’s Agenda for Trust in Harrisburg (PATH). The proposals are: No staff…
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Read More: PA House GOP Leader Offers Gov’t Reform PlanTaxes & Economy
Citizens Protest Taxes with Tea Parties
The Pittsburgh Tribune review has a story on Tea Parties going on in Pennsylvania, and specifically in Pittsburgh, which has upcoming events with Alan Keyes and Glen Meakem speaking. …
Media
Read More: Citizens Protest Taxes with Tea PartiesTaxes & Economy
FASB Eases “Mark to Market”
The Federal Accounting Standards Board voted to ease “mark to market” accounting rules, which forced financial firms to markdown the value of their assets. This is pretty wonkish, but…
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Read More: FASB Eases “Mark to Market”Public Union Democracy
What will you do when union organizers show up at your home?
The latest video from the Commonwealth Foundation:…
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Read More: What will you do when union organizers show up at your home?Taxes & Economy
Tax Freedom Day for PA is April 14
The Tax Foundation has released the latest report on Tax Freedom Day (get the Full Report in PDF). This year Tax Freedom Day will occur on April 13…
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Read More: Tax Freedom Day for PA is April 14Taxes & Economy
A pop quiz on how Pa. leaders opt to spend your dollars
John Baer has a pop quiz on Pennsylvania’s recent government spending. How much do you know about taxpayer-funded bonuses to legislative staffers, legal fees to defend those bonuses, international…
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Read More: A pop quiz on how Pa. leaders opt to spend your dollarsPublic Union Democracy
Union Bosses Dupe “Unlicensed” Blogger
In his blog today, John Micek makes a couple of jokes about “Joe the Plumber” – probably to avoid being called “Rat Rat Rat” by union bosses (who promise…
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Read More: Union Bosses Dupe “Unlicensed” BloggerTaxes & Economy
PA Governor Releases April Fool’s Joke Too Early
Governor Rendell has a great April Fool’s gag, announcing a Pennsylvania “Stimulus Czar” (like anyone would think that’s a real job) that pays $120,000 per year for part-time work.
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Read More: PA Governor Releases April Fool’s Joke Too EarlyPublic Union Democracy
Union Intimidation in Action
Unions claim they won’t use intimidation as one of their tactics if the Employee Free Choice Act, a.k.a. “Card Check” is passed, eliminating the secret ballot in union elections. But…
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Read More: Union Intimidation in ActionState Budget
Updated Pennsylvania Revenue Shortfall Projections
Following an Open Records request, the PA Office of the Budget provided us the their latest projections for General Fund revenue collections. The number for media, lawmakers, and policy nerds…
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Read More: Updated Pennsylvania Revenue Shortfall ProjectionsGovernment Accountability
Gov. Creates Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Board
John Micek has the list of appointees (sans the GOP caucus appointments) to Gov. Rendell’s Stimulus Oversight Commission. Unfortunately, the panel includes no representation by taxpayers, with the exception…
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Read More: Gov. Creates Pennsylvania Stimulus Oversight Board