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.”
State Budget
Earmark searches made easy
The Seattle Times has a great tool for searching earmarks. Not only can you find defense earmarks for each member of Congress, but they also report campaign contributions from…
Media
Read More: Earmark searches made easyTaxes & Economy
Hugo Chavez: Bush is sociailist “comrade”
Cato-at-liberty notes that Venezuelan would-be-dictator Hugo Chavez has welcomed President Bush into the socialist movement: Socialist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez mocked George W. Bush as a “comrade” on…
Media
Read More: Hugo Chavez: Bush is sociailist “comrade”Health Care
The Great Health Care Debate
Bob Moffit of Heritage writes that we are at a crossroads in health care in term of the difference between McCain and Obama’s proposals. The Commonwealth Foundation has said…
Media
Read More: The Great Health Care DebateTaxes & Economy
“The Great Depression II”
As most movie sequels are dwarfed by the original, so too does the rhetoric about the US sitting on the precipice of “another Great Depression” over-hype the current situation, and…
Media
Read More: “The Great Depression II”State Budget
Capitol Domes: Fiscal Cliff Ahead
The Central Penn Business Journal launched Capitol Domes today (subscribe to the feed here), a new blog featuring Matt Brouillette and Rock the Capital’s Eric Epstein. Brouillette’s…
Media
Read More: Capitol Domes: Fiscal Cliff AheadGovernment Accountability
Heritage on ACORN
The Heritage Foundation has a post today giving an informative primer on ACORN and how it gets it money.
Media
Read More: Heritage on ACORNTaxes & Economy
The Case for Corporate Tax Cuts
The NCPA has a short primer on why the US (and Pennsylvania) should cut corporate tax rates. The US has the 2nd highest (to Japan) combined corporate tax rate. …
Media
Read More: The Case for Corporate Tax CutsGovernment Accountability
Buckeye Institute files Rico suit against ACORN
Our sister think tank in Ohio has filed a RICO suit (i.e. for organized crime) against ACORN for voter fraud. The full complaint is here. Since stories…
Media
Read More: Buckeye Institute files Rico suit against ACORN
Anatomy of a Train Wreck
The Independent Institute has a new report on the causes of the mortgage meltdown: This report concludes that, in an attempt to increase home ownership, particularly by…
Media
Read More: Anatomy of a Train WreckTaxes & Economy
Business Owners: Economy and elected officials are bad, drilling and nuclear power needed
The Lincoln Institute has release their Fall 2008 Keystone Business Climate Survey covering a range of business and political issues. Some of the more interesting findings: Almost…
Media
Read More: Business Owners: Economy and elected officials are bad, drilling and nuclear power neededGovernment Accountability
Why Americans love term limits
Howard Rich, head of the pro-term limit group U.S. Term Limits, has an op-ed in the USA TODAY on why term limits are popular, except among legislators.
Media
Read More: Why Americans love term limitsHealth Care
Where will Canadians go for health care?
A Canadian commented on a previous post that – even though he had to come to the US to receive health care – the Canadian system is better because…
Media
Read More: Where will Canadians go for health care?Taxes & Economy
Make the bailout “investments” voluntary
Letter I sent to the President and my representatives in Congress: The recent bailout plan approved by Congress authorized the Dept. of the Treasury to purchase mortgages securities at above-market…
Media
Read More: Make the bailout “investments” voluntaryState Budget
Stay (Just A Little Bit Longer)
Recently, state Senators Gibson Armstrong (R, Lancaster) and Vince Fumo (D, Philadelphia) sounded the alarm that Pennsylvania will be facing a massive budget deficit by the end of the…
Commentary
Read More: Stay (Just A Little Bit Longer)Health Care
Is choosing your health care plan dangerous?
Michael Cannon’s latest commentary on health care reform is a must read: What I saw next was even scarier: The presidential debate, where Barack Obama told me how…
Media
Read More: Is choosing your health care plan dangerous?Taxes & Economy
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must go
Good article in the Christian Science Monitor on the need to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Heritage Foundation blog also discusses how Fannie Mae and Freddie…
Media
Read More: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must goEducation
Video: Flunked Panel Discussion
Video of our panel discussion following the film Flunked, co-hosted by the REACH Foundation. Discussants include Adam Schaeffer of the Cato Institute; school choice parents…
Media
Read More: Video: Flunked Panel DiscussionGovernment Accountability
More on ACORN and Voter Fraud
As a followup to Jessica’s post on ACORN and Voter Fraud, here are some recent updates: The Tribune Review notes that investigations of ACORN could be coming to…
Media
Read More: More on ACORN and Voter FraudRegulation
Leasing Toll Roads, Airports, and Parking
There are several stories on privatization in the news lately on a number of fronts. First up is in the real value of toll roads – which should be read…
Media
Read More: Leasing Toll Roads, Airports, and ParkingEducation
Video: Leaving Children Behind: Teacher Unions vs. School Choice
Video from yesterday’s Policies and Principles luncheon (co-hosted by the REACH Foundation) on school choice and the teachers’ unions is now available on our YouTube Channel. …
Media
Read More: Video: Leaving Children Behind: Teacher Unions vs. School ChoicePublic Union Democracy
Talking Teacher Strikes and the Bailout
Audio from yesterday’s Pittsburgh Renaissance Radio show hosted by Matt Brouillette is available for download. For individual segments: Matt talks with Simon Campbell of Stop Teacher Strikes…
Media
Read More: Talking Teacher Strikes and the Bailout