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.”
Regulation
Downsize the Federal Government
Cato Institute video on “Downsizing the Federal Government” starting with the US Department of Agriculture. If, like me, you thought that the Dept. of Agriculture was a relatively small…
Media
Read More: Downsize the Federal GovernmentGovernment Accountability
Commonwealth Foundation (and more) on Twitter
The Commonwealth Foundation is now on Twitter, you can follow our user name: @liberty4PA. You can also follow Commonwealth Foundation staff: @MattBrouillette, @NathanBenefield If you are new…
Media
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation (and more) on TwitterTaxes & Economy
Is Christmas bad for the Economy?
Readers who are spending this week returning gifts they don’t really want – or those who think Wal-Mart playing Jingle…
Media
Read More: Is Christmas bad for the Economy?Regulation
Snyder County refuses Boscov’s Bailout
Officials in Snyder County are refusing to back a loan as part of the Boscov’s Bailout – even though Pennsylvania officials are pressuring them to do so, arguing…
Media
Read More: Snyder County refuses Boscov’s BailoutRegulation
The Year in Bans
Reason TV video looks at the latest examples of the Nanny State Mentality, highlighting some of the many things banned in 2008.
Media
Read More: The Year in BansTaxes & Economy
When has an “economic stimulus” ever worked?
The Club for Growth recently put out a statement opposing a federal “economic stimulus” plan, like that currently being pushed by the incoming administration (and lobbied for by…
Media
Read More: When has an “economic stimulus” ever worked?Taxes & Economy
Residents Still “Movin Out” of Pennsylvania
The Census Bureau released the latest annual population estimates. The trends for Pennsylvania remain much the same: Pennsylvania grew by 0.2% between July 2007 and July 2008 – ranking…
Media
Read More: Residents Still “Movin Out” of PennsylvaniaGovernment Accountability
Taxpayer Funded Lobbying and the Growth of Government
Americans for Prosperity has a new analysis of taxpayer-funded lobbying of the federal government. I don’t want to point out the obvious, but this taxpayer-funded lobbying is almost all…
Media
Read More: Taxpayer Funded Lobbying and the Growth of GovernmentEducation
Why Pennsylvania leads the nation in teacher walkouts
The Wall Street Journal features an article on teacher strikes in Pennsylvania, noting that the Keystone State leads the nation in school employees strikes. The piece cites a…
Media
Read More: Why Pennsylvania leads the nation in teacher walkoutsRegulation
Taxpayers helping millionaires
Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed celebrates the end of a long-standing tradition of sending taxpayers money to sports stadiums in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia – or rather, the extension of that tradition…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers helping millionairesRegulation
Ed Rendell and Rosie O’Donnell
Q: What do Governor Ed Rendell and Rosie O’Donnell have in common (hint: it has nothing to do with food)? A: They have both gotten on Donald Trump’s bad side.
Media
Read More: Ed Rendell and Rosie O’DonnellTaxes & Economy
Corporatism vs. Socialism vs. Free Markets
As President Bush announces a revised bailout for automakers, David Boaz examines the policies of Bush and proposals of Obama and concludes neither is a “socialist”, but neither…
Media
Read More: Corporatism vs. Socialism vs. Free MarketsRegulation
Lemieux: “Pennsylvania Taxpayers are Suckers”
This is somewhat old news, but its new to me: Mario Lemieux admitted in August that he never thought of moving the Pittsburgh Penguins, but was still able to…
Media
Read More: Lemieux: “Pennsylvania Taxpayers are Suckers”State Budget
Return of Pennsylvania Legislature’s Reserves?
An audit of the General Assembly found there is $200 million in legislative surplus, and called for most of it to be returned to the taxpayers who paid for…
Media
Read More: Return of Pennsylvania Legislature’s Reserves?Public Union Democracy
Taxes, Union Bailouts, and “Crybabies”
Every other Tuesday, Matt Brouillette hosts The Politics of Business on Pittsburgh Renaissance Radio on WMNY 1360 AM from 2-6pm. This week he tackled a variety of issues that rankled at…
Media
Read More: Taxes, Union Bailouts, and “Crybabies”Education
School Choice Benefits Students and Taxpayers
Bob Maranto is featured in the Inquirer today writing on why Philadelphia needs charter schools: The academic data provided by No Child Left Behind…
Media
Read More: School Choice Benefits Students and TaxpayersRegulation
Smoking ban is bad for business, say casinos
Pennsylvania’s slots casinos are complaining that the recently enacted state smoking ban is hurting their revenues (we told you so) and are asking that their exemption be increased…
Media
Read More: Smoking ban is bad for business, say casinosTaxes & Economy
Big Government Leads to Corrupt Government
John Stossel has a good article on Townhall today on Blagoevich, the bailout, and public choice theory The Public Choice economists remind us that contrary to what…
Media
Read More: Big Government Leads to Corrupt GovernmentTaxes & Economy
Buchanan: GOP should embrace xenophobia, not economics
Pat Buchanan on Townhall.com calls for an automakers bailout based on xenophobia and on repeating the mistakes of the past, rather than sound economic policy. Is…
Media
Read More: Buchanan: GOP should embrace xenophobia, not economicsTaxes & Economy
Ten Problems with a Federal Bailout of the States
Chris Edwards has an article in National Review Online on why a bailout of the states is bad policy. Here are his top ten reasons. 1. The federal government…
Media
Read More: Ten Problems with a Federal Bailout of the StatesTaxes & Economy
Bigger Government is no Stimulus
Dan Mitchell of the Cato Institute has a great video on why government spending has, and will, fail to “stimulate” the economy. The evidence detailed by Mitchell…
Media
Read More: Bigger Government is no Stimulus