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
Pennsylvania Turnpike Chair Target of FBI
KYW Radio reports that Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Chairman Mitch Rubin is now the target of an FBI Corruption probe. This should not be a surprise, following the conviction…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Chair Target of FBITaxes & Economy
More on the AIG Bonuses
Greg Mankiw notes that the AIG bonuses, which seem to be such a focus of Congressional leaders these days, amount to 0.001% of GDP – a pretty trivial amount…
Media
Read More: More on the AIG BonusesTaxes & Economy
Does Pennsylvania Need to Fund Public TV?
The Allegheny Institute has an excellent post on state funding of public television. The local Pittsburgh station – WQED – is asking viewers to contribute “their two cents”; not…
Media
Read More: Does Pennsylvania Need to Fund Public TV?Government Accountability
More Taxpayer Money Wasted on Promotions and Marketing
I’m not sure if readers are aware of this, but Congress recently passed something called a “stimulus” bill a few weeks ago. In order to publicize the stimulus funding,…
Media
Read More: More Taxpayer Money Wasted on Promotions and MarketingEducation
School Choice Battles Wage On
Mary Katherine Ham has an excellent article on the battle over the DC Scholarship Program.The Philadelphia Bulletin also has a recent article, noting an Obama spokesman has said…
Media
Read More: School Choice Battles Wage OnRegulation
Gaming Control Board Under Fire
Sen. Jane Orie, Rep. Mike Vereb, and a few other Republican lawmakers teed off on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control board, for their travel habits during a travel ban. …
Media
Read More: Gaming Control Board Under FireTaxes & Economy
Who’s Really “Nuts” on Economic Policy?
We posted yesterday on the Turzai-Quigley proposal to cut state spending and tax rates. Today Governor Rendell called Turzai “nuts” and his plan “ludicrous“. Rendell has previously lambasted…
Media
Read More: Who’s Really “Nuts” on Economic Policy?
Benefield to Casey: Stop Rewarding Failure
I received an email from my Senator, Bob Casey, with the subject “Casey to AIG: Do the Right Thing“, in which he asked for constituents to submit their thoughts. …
Media
Read More: Benefield to Casey: Stop Rewarding FailureGovernment Accountability
Term Limits Needed in Pennsylvania
John Baer writes that the recent Vince Fumo conviction – the latest in a long history of corruption by long-time Pennsylvania lawmakers – is another reason why Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Term Limits Needed in PennsylvaniaHealth Care
Free Markets: An Unknown Ideal
President Obama, Governor Rendell, and many in the media have been echoing a similar refrain recently, "Conservatives had their chance. We tried free markets, and they failed." When exactly they…
Commentary
Read More: Free Markets: An Unknown IdealRegulation
Representatives Propose Putting State Government on a Diet
State Representatives Mike Turzai and Tom Quigley unveiled a plan to cut about $170 million wasteful spending from the Pennsylvania state budget ($130 million relative to Gov. Rendell’s proposed…
Media
Read More: Representatives Propose Putting State Government on a DietPublic Union Democracy
AFL-CIO Pledges Votes for Specter in Quid Pro Quo
Our good friend Bill George, head of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, has promised to help out Sen. Arlen Specter, if and only if he votes for “card check”, the…
Media
Read More: AFL-CIO Pledges Votes for Specter in Quid Pro Quo
AIG Execs Deserved Their Bonuses
Despite the anger many people – including President Obama – feel over AIG giving out $156 million in bonuses, I have to say they earned it, as I’ve…
Media
Read More: AIG Execs Deserved Their BonusesEducation
Dormitory Construction Boom
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has an article on the enormous rise in spending on university buildings, which touches on the current debate in higher ed funding:…
Media
Read More: Dormitory Construction Boom
Vouchers Improve Public Schools
A new review of studies by Greg Forster of the Friedman Foundation finds that public school systems have benefited from voucher programs: “Contrary to the widespread claim that…
Media
Read More: Vouchers Improve Public SchoolsEducation
Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law
Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, March 12, 2009 Good afternoon. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. We…
Testimony
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Charter School LawRegulation
State Employees Take Taxpayer-Funded Trips
Team 4 has an amazing exposé of taxpayer-funded travel by Pennsylvania state employees, in particular the gaming control board–after a travel ban was implement. Here are some of the…
Media
Read More: State Employees Take Taxpayer-Funded TripsEducation
Funding for Cybers up For Debate
The Philadelphia Inquirer has a story about an upcoming hearing on charter schools and cyber school funding. As I will be testifying at the hearing, I won’t repeat my…
Media
Read More: Funding for Cybers up For DebatePublic Union Democracy
Quick Trivia Question
From Mark Perry – what do the 8 states states with the lowest January unemployment rates have in common? Answer – the are all Right to Work states.
Media
Read More: Quick Trivia QuestionState Budget
Obama’s Budget: More of the Same You Can Believe In
The Cato Institute’s Chris Edwards has the latest Tax and Budget bulletin, with an updated analysis of spending by president. The bulletin reiterates what Cato has been saying…
Media
Read More: Obama’s Budget: More of the Same You Can Believe In
The Next Bailout – LexCorp?
Lex Luthor makes the case as to why he is deserving of a federal bailout on Funny or Die. My favorite part is “Superman just flew backwards around…
Media
Read More: The Next Bailout – LexCorp?