Nathan Benefield

Nathan Benefield

Senior Vice President

Nathan (Nate) Benefield is the Senior Vice President at the Commonwealth Foundation.

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.”

Government Accountability

Report Voter Fraud, Win Money

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 28, 2008

The Sam Adams Alliance is holding a video contest to raise public awareness in election fraud and prevent it from occurring. Click here for details. While…

Media

Read More: Report Voter Fraud, Win Money

Regulation

Should PA taxpayers be subsidizing Hollywood?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 27, 2008

Lowman Henry weighs in on the $5.7 million tax credit awarded by Pennsylvania taxpayers to the raunchy comedy, Zack and Miri Make a Porno. Henry thinks…

Media

Read More: Should PA taxpayers be subsidizing Hollywood?

Taxes & Economy

The Age of Prosperity Is Over

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 27, 2008

Art Laffer in today’s Wall Street Journal on how the bailout mentality is bad news for our economy: Whenever the government bails someone out of trouble, they always…

Media

Read More: The Age of Prosperity Is Over

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Is Driving Its Doctors Away

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 25, 2008

Frederic Jarrett – a Pittsburgh doctor – editorializes in the Wall Street Journal as to how Governor Rendell is pushing doctors out a Pennsylvania by holding MCare abatement (a…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Is Driving Its Doctors Away

Taxes & Economy

Where has all the money for bridges gone?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 23, 2008

A Heritage Foundation analysis finds that the federal government has given more money to state for bridge repair than states are actually using, with a special mention of Pennsylvania:…

Media

Read More: Where has all the money for bridges gone?

Education

Will Pa. graduation exams improve public education?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 23, 2008

Cross-posted at Capitol Domes Gov. Rendell has been pushing the idea of a statewide graduation requirement that all students pass a test (his latest gives one of…

Media

Read More: Will Pa. graduation exams improve public education?

Taxes & Economy

Beyond the Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 23, 2008

The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) and Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) have a new website: BeyondBailouts.org.  The site is dedicated to exposing the government’s role in creating…

Media

Read More: Beyond the Bailout

Government Accountability

One rotten Acorn?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 23, 2008

GrassrootsPA has a roundup of stories on the Philadelphia man, working with ACORN, who was charged with 108 counts related to forgery and fraud in voter registration.  In the…

Media

Read More: One rotten Acorn?

Regulation

No Smoking Sign Mandate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 23, 2008

Little noticed in the debate over Pennsylvania’s new smoking ban was that it also included a smoking sign mandate. The Commonwealth Foundation got our notice (along with a…

Media

Read More: No Smoking Sign Mandate

Taxes & Economy

Cutting corporate taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 22, 2008

When critics of the US (and Pennsylvania’s) corporate tax structure – like the NCPA, Tax Foundation, and Commonwealth Foundation – point out that the US (and Pennsylvania)…

Media

Read More: Cutting corporate taxes

Education

Forced Unionism and Teacher Strikes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 22, 2008

Video from the National Right to Work Foundation  featuring Simon Campbell of Stop Teacher Strikes…

Media

Read More: Forced Unionism and Teacher Strikes

Taxes & Economy

Is the Credit Crunch a Big Lie?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 22, 2008

A short research paper from three economists from the Federal Reserve of Minneapolis find that the so-called credit crunch, which led to the bailout, was based on a number…

Media

Read More: Is the Credit Crunch a Big Lie?

Government Accountability

Another claim that Pennsylvania is full of racists

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 22, 2008

First, Ed Rendell claimed that racist, conservative whites wouldn’t vote for Obama (just like they didn’t support Lynn Swann). Then Daily News columnist Fatimah Ali declared their would…

Media

Read More: Another claim that Pennsylvania is full of racists

Government Accountability

Campaign Finance Reform: Fool’s Gold

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 21, 2008

Imagine if George W. Bush would declare that, as part of the war on terrorism, he proposed the Patriot Act II, which would grant the federal government power to collect…

Media

Read More: Campaign Finance Reform: Fool’s Gold

Government Accountability

Please Spare us from a “Professional” Legislature

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 21, 2008

John LaPlante editorializes that states (Minnesota) should avoid the “professional legislature” model (e.g. Pennsylvania): The personal dynamics in professional legislatures also favor increased spending. Professional legislatures offer…

Media

Read More: Please Spare us from a “Professional” Legislature

Taxes & Economy

Political Incorrect Guide to Politics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 21, 2008

John Stossel’s latest special on those running for office who think government (or they) can save the world is a must watch.  Stossel outlines the failure of government, and…

Media

Read More: Political Incorrect Guide to Politics

Taxes & Economy

Governor Rendell earns a D

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 20, 2008

The Cato Institute gives Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell a “D” on its Fiscal Report Card of the Governors. In 2004, Governor Rendell pushed through a $1.5…

Media

Read More: Governor Rendell earns a D

Taxes & Economy

State budget must be cut

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 17, 2008

The Citizens’ Voice has an editorial calling for state budget cuts giving the current crunch in the Pennsylvania state budget. Meanwhile, Gib Armstrong and other lawmakers continue…

Media

Read More: State budget must be cut

Regulation

Zack and Miri Take a Fortune

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 16, 2008

The City of Philadelphia has refused to allow posters for Zack and Miri Make a Porno on bus stops because they are deemed too seedy. (Hat Tip to…

Media

Read More: Zack and Miri Take a Fortune