Nathan Benefield
Chief Policy Officer
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 Chief Policy Officer , 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.”
Public 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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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 PartiesCriminal Justice Reform
Reforming State Corrections
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has a story on a Pew study on the cost of incarceration/corrections in states. There is little question that the cost of our prisons…
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Read More: Reforming State Corrections
More taxpayer-funded gifts to lawmakers
Mario Cattabiani has another story on wasteful spending by the Pennsylvania legislature – this time, $4,000 for gift pen sets to lawmakers (HT Grassroots PA). Speaker Keith McCall…
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Read More: More taxpayer-funded gifts to lawmakersTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Revenue Short Grows to $1.2 billion – Already Largest in PA History
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the February revenue collections showing state General Fund revenues are $1.27 billion short for the fiscal year to date. Governor Rendell estimated…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Revenue Short Grows to $1.2 billion – Already Largest in PA HistoryEducation
The Scotland School, the State Budget, and School Choice
The Morning Call has a story on Governor Rendell’s proposal to close down the Scotland School for Veterans Children, asking if it is a “pawn in the budget game”. …
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Harrisburg Tea Party
The Harrisburg Tea Party is on for this Saturday, March 7 at Noon on the Capitol Steps. Here are news, pics, and videos from other tea parties hosted around…
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Read More: Harrisburg Tea PartyEducation
School Choice Hypocrisy Coming in DC?
The federal “omnibus” bill, despite billions in earmarks an pork, also proposes to cut off funding for the DC Scholarship program, write Dan Lips and Robert Enlow in NRO…
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Read More: School Choice Hypocrisy Coming in DC?Government Accountability
Transparency for PA Stimulus Money?
State Senator Mike Brubaker has a proposal to create greater oversight over how Pennsylvania spends its transparency money (HT: John Micek at Capitol Ideas). The proposal has two…
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Read More: Transparency for PA Stimulus Money?Regulation
Wisconsin Governor Proposes Eliminating Film Tax Credit
The Tax Foundation points out that at least one governor is proposing eliminating his state’s tax credit for Hollywood films. As we have noted, tax credits for movies…
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Read More: Wisconsin Governor Proposes Eliminating Film Tax Credit
Santorum: I’m Proud of My Earmarks
Former Senator Rick Santorum rips the Democrats’ earmarks in the omnibus bill as “payoffs to the folks that support them” and special interests, as well calling Obama a…
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Read More: Santorum: I’m Proud of My EarmarksRegulation
Do we need to subsidize our 22nd largest industry?
A news story on Philly.com covers some Republican lawmakers complaints that Governor Rendell budget cuts are too steep, at least in regard to agriculture subsidies (HT Grassroots PA). …
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Read More: Do we need to subsidize our 22nd largest industry?Taxes & Economy
Bushels of Bibles for Pennsylvania Lawmakers
Mario Cattabiani has a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer on the cost of new Bibles (and other holy books) for lawmakers to be sworn in on – $13,700.
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Read More: Bushels of Bibles for Pennsylvania LawmakersEducation
Local Proficiency Measures are Lacking in PA
A new study from Penn State reveals that local school districts’ assessments, allowed as an alternative to the 11th-grade PSSA exam to demonstrate proficiency for Pennsylvania students before graduating,…
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Read More: Local Proficiency Measures are Lacking in PA