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.”
State Budget
Sanford to Refuse Stimulus Funds – Example for Rendell
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has announced he will reject much of the federal stimulus dollars coming to his state. Like Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, he recognizes that…
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Stimulus Money to be used as Political Reward
From Pennsylvania Avenue (via Capitol Ideas), Congressman Brady thinks Governor Rendell should use stimulus money to reward Democrats who voted for the bill. Did you think the stimulus…
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Read More: Stimulus Money to be used as Political RewardPublic Union Democracy
The Attack on the Secret Ballot
Tom Gies has an article in The American on the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as card check, which would do away with the secret ballot in union…
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Read More: The Attack on the Secret BallotTaxes & Economy
Establishing the “Facts” about Pennsylvania’s Economy
Chuck Ardo – spokesman for Gov. Rendell – has an op-ed in Sunday’s Patriot News about what a great success Gov. Rendell’s economic policy has been. This taxpayer-funded propaganda…
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Read More: Establishing the “Facts” about Pennsylvania’s EconomyHealth Care
Will Rendell Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs?
Governor Rendell announced a number of new proposals increasing the number of people in Adult Basic health care, shifting funds to help with mortgage assistance and home heating cost.
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Read More: Will Rendell Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs?Taxes & Economy
On Specter’s Economic Remarks
Roxbury News has posted video of Arlen Specter’s remarks yesterday (part II here) at the State Capitol. Three things really bother me regarding his defense of his vote…
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Read More: On Specter’s Economic RemarksRegulation
Government liquor store monopoly hates perception of government monopoly
The quote of the day does to Joe Conti, head of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, who said in a story about customer service training for LCB clerks,…
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Read More: Government liquor store monopoly hates perception of government monopolyTaxes & Economy
Money Squanderers
Brad Bumsted has an excellent op-ed on why Pennsylvania lawmakers’ Bibles, gifts from the speaker, legal fees, and the like are just a few among many…
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Read More: Money SquanderersTaxes & Economy
Freedom in Pennsylvania and the 50 states
The Mercatus Center has a new report ranking freedom – both personal and economic – in the 50 states. Overall, they rank Pennsylvania 20th. See a related story…
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Read More: Freedom in Pennsylvania and the 50 states
Harrisburg Tea Party Pics and Videos
We had over 1,000 folks (some estimates higher, some a bit under 1,000) at today's Harrisburg Tea Party. Not knowing how many people to expect, I have to say…
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Read More: Harrisburg Tea Party Pics and Videos
What does a trillion dollars look like?
Since it is extremely difficult for most people to grasp enormous dollar amounts that government spends, e.g. $1 Trillion, we often have to resort to gimics, such as “spending $1…
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Read More: What does a trillion dollars look like?Regulation
State Bus Tour to Promote PA Lottery
From the “Are you kidding me?” department is this announcement that, despite a massive budget deficit, the state is launching a statewide bus tour to promote a new Pennsylvania…
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Read More: State Bus Tour to Promote PA LotteryPublic Union Democracy
Card Check Would Cost Millions in Jobs
A new study finds that “card check” legislation, if enacted, would increase unemployment by 1.5 million jobs for each 3% increase in union membership (HT Tony Phyrillas). If…
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Read More: Card Check Would Cost Millions in Jobs
More Pay to Play in Harrisburg?
John Micek does some digging on the House Democrats $28,000 contract with a head hunting firm, as reported yesterday: House Democrats defended the contract, which was…
Media
Read More: More Pay to Play in Harrisburg?State Budget
Pennsylvania Voters: Taxing, Spending Too High
A poll conducted by the NFIB shows that Pennsylvania voters think that taxes are too high – no surprise there, except to the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, who…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Voters: Taxing, Spending Too HighTaxes & Economy
Average American Household Pays $3,190 in Corporate Income Taxes
The Tax Foundation has a new campaign to raise awareness of the cost of corporate taxes, starting with the fact that corporate income taxes cost the average American family…
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Read More: Average American Household Pays $3,190 in Corporate Income TaxesGovernment Accountability
Transparency on PA’s Stimulus Money
Governor Rendell announced his ideas for “oversight” of the funding Pennsylvania will receive from the federal stimulus (related story here), and unveiled a new website – recovery.pa.gov…
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Read More: Transparency on PA’s Stimulus MoneyTaxes & Economy
More of the Same Failed Policies of the Past
Here is a spot-on blog post from the Cato Institute that I originally missed, but it is one of my favorite themes – that government spending dramatically increased…
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Read More: More of the Same Failed Policies of the PastTaxes & Economy
Rendell: Unemployment Benefits will Cost State
As we have noted previously, the federal stimulus includes an increase to unemployment compensation that would also drive up state costs, and leave states on the hook once the…
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Read More: Rendell: Unemployment Benefits will Cost StateEducation
Stimulus money to go to PA Universities
It looks like someone has gotten around to reading the stimulus bill, and realized their is funding for higher education in there. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports state-related universities (Penn…
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Read More: Stimulus money to go to PA Universities
Thoughts on Tea Parties
Alex Charyna of PAWatercooler writes on the idea of tea parties – such as the one to be held in Harrisburg on Saturday – saying they are a…
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Read More: Thoughts on Tea Parties