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.”
Education
The Great College Hoax
Forbes has an excellent article on the merits of college – and taxpayer subsidies of higher ed – even as Governor Rendell proposes legalized video poker to put…
Media
Read More: The Great College HoaxTaxes & Economy
Libertarian ideas to stimulate economy
Jeffrey A. Miron has a list of libertarian proposals to stimulate the economy (I would expect most self-described “conservatives” would agree with 8 of the 9 proposals): Repeal the…
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Please No More Taxes Video Contest
Are you tired of paying high taxes? Enter the Commonwealth Foundation’s “Please No More Taxes” video contest and win up to $2,500! Go to PleaseNoMoreTaxes.org for contest rules.
Media
Read More: Please No More Taxes Video ContestTaxes & Economy
The GOP Has a Dumb Mortgage Idea
In the Wall Street Journal, Ed Glaeser rips the US Senate GOP’s plans to underwrite mortgages and offer an additional tax credit for home-buyers More criticism of this…
Media
Read More: The GOP Has a Dumb Mortgage IdeaEducation
Special Needs Scholarship Could Replace School for the Deaf
There has been a lot of public outcry against Governor Rendell’s proposal to close the Scranton School for the Deaf, as well as the Scotland School…
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Read More: Special Needs Scholarship Could Replace School for the DeafEducation
The School District Consolidation Myth
As part of his budget, Governor Rendell proposed creating a commission on consolidating PA school districts (and it turns out, he may intend to do so even if the legislature…
Media
Read More: The School District Consolidation MythEducation
Economists Against Governor Rendell
In his budget address, Governor Rendell cited “conservative” economists who support the stimulus package and his spending proposals, even though they don’t. Here is Rendell: Economists from…
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Read More: Economists Against Governor RendellState Budget
PA Budget by the Numbers
The 2009-10 budget is $28.97 billion, rather than the $26.6 billion as is being reported. The difference being that it relies on $2.4 billion in one-time federal “stimulus” money. That…
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Read More: PA Budget by the NumbersState Budget
PA budget address liveblog
I’ll be live blog-tweeting Governor Rendell’s budget address, beginning at 10:30 today you can follow the action here.
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Read More: PA budget address liveblogState Budget
We Can’t Spend Our Way to Prosperity
John Stossel has an op-ed up on the pork-laden “stimulus” package: President Obama has vowed that no earmarks — special appropriations to benefit particular congressmen — will…
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Read More: We Can’t Spend Our Way to ProsperityState Budget
Cronyism Undermines Cargo Airport
It appears the Hazleton Airport project is now dead in the water, after Rep. Todd Eachus (the local sponsor and now Majority Leader) has dropped his support after…
Media
Read More: Cronyism Undermines Cargo AirportEducation
PA Budget Proposals: Cut the Fat, Play Poker
Sen. John Eichelberger unveiled a proposal today to issue a moratorium on “earmarks”, the legislative-controlled WAMs and other items. The proposal also calls for a review of all…
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Read More: PA Budget Proposals: Cut the Fat, Play PokerHealth Care
Try to Reform Health Care
The Senate Republican’s unveiled their caucus’s plan on health care, which is largely the same as they had last year, and thus my criticism of that plan still…
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Read More: Try to Reform Health CareState Budget
Even more reasons to oppose the stimulus
NTU’s blog has a long list (via Tom Coburn) of wasteful spending and bad policy in the federal “stimulus” bill, including: $2 billion earmark to re-start FutureGen,…
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Read More: Even more reasons to oppose the stimulusTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Revenue Shortfall Climbs
The PA Department of Revenue released the January Revenue Collections this afternoon. We’ll have the full “Deficit Watch” up on the website tomorrow, but here are the quick…
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Read More: Pennsylvania’s Revenue Shortfall ClimbsEducation
Overspending Schools Don’t Need More Taxpayer Funding
NYTimes article (registration required) looks at how much of the federal “stimulus” money would go to school spending, particularly for school construction. Critics and supporters alike…
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Read More: Overspending Schools Don’t Need More Taxpayer FundingTaxes & Economy
Should government get bigger, or smaller?
Richard Rahn has a commentary for the Cato Institute on the “optimal size of government”. He takes the premise that we need some level of government (to protect our…
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Read More: Should government get bigger, or smaller?Taxes & Economy
501 added to Pa. payroll since state hiring freeze
AP story on the 501 employees hired since the hiring freeze, including several over $100,000 (former legislator Dan Surra, for whom a new $95,000 position was created, just missed…
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Read More: 501 added to Pa. payroll since state hiring freezeTaxes & Economy
The Super Bowl (Economic Version): Phoenix vs. Pittsburgh
Harold Miller has an interesting blog post, featuring a few graphs, comparing the economic growth of the Pittsburgh region to the Phoenix region – the two hometowns for tonight’s…
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Read More: The Super Bowl (Economic Version): Phoenix vs. PittsburghRegulation
PA Judge Overturns State Mercury Rule
A Pennsylvania judge ruled that a state-specific regulation on mercury emissions (one that was put into place by the Department of Environmental Protection over the objections of many…
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Read More: PA Judge Overturns State Mercury RuleHealth Care
Stimulating Government
The Galen Institute has a new analysis of health care proposal in the propose “economic stimulus”, specifically proposals moving toward greater federalization of health care, which has indeed been…
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