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.”
Criminal 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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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
“Tea Parties” Coming to Pennsylvania
Online conservative activists have rallied to CNBC’s Rick Santelli’s call last for a “Nationwide Tea Party” to protest the economic “stimulus,” bailouts, and erosion of liberty. Here are some…
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Read More: “Tea Parties” Coming to PennsylvaniaGovernment Accountability
PA House, Senate Refuse Request for Lobbyist Records
Here is an AP Story on the ruling by Pennsylvania House and Senate have ruled that lobbyist contact is not covered under the new Open Records law (HT…
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Obama’s Mortgage Plan vs. Predatory Lending
A Heritage Insider blog post asks what the difference is between the mortgage plan proposed by Obama and the predatory lending using “teaser rates” that contributed to the rise…
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Read More: Obama’s Mortgage Plan vs. Predatory LendingEducation
Fact Check: PA Education Spending
A myth floating around Harrisburg is that the state government used to fund 50% of K-12 education, and has reduced support since then. This was most recently stated by…
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Read More: Fact Check: PA Education SpendingTaxes & Economy
Federal stimulus is a trap for states
The Wall Street Journal today looks at governors considering rejecting the federal stimulus dollars, as it will increase the cost to states. For example, the stimulus expands Medicaid subsidies,…
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Read More: Federal stimulus is a trap for statesRegulation
State and local owe enormous obligations to retirees
The Allegheny Institute has a new policy report examining the pension plans of the 10 largest Pennsylvania cities. They find these plans have a combined unfunded liability of $4.5…
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Read More: State and local owe enormous obligations to retireesEducation
Report Card on American Education: A State-by-State Analysis
The American Legislative Exchange Council has released their annual Report Card on American Education. The report is filled with education data – spending, inputs, academic performance – with a…
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Read More: Report Card on American Education: A State-by-State AnalysisTaxes & Economy
Rendell admits “stimulus” may not stimulate
Governor Rendell has acknowledged that he’s not sure the stimulus legislation just passed will actually help the economy (HT PA Watercooler). On the one hand, I’ll like to…
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Read More: Rendell admits “stimulus” may not stimulateTaxes & Economy
Policies that Produce Real Growth
Dan Mitchell has another educational video produced by the Center for Freedom and Prosperity. He uses the Fraser Institute Economic Freedom of the World (Heritage has a…
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Read More: Policies that Produce Real Growth