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.”
Government Accountability
Perzel’s Parking Authority
Here is a funny video in which “Manatee” declares his desire to run the Philadelphia Parking Authority, so that he can work as little as possible, hire all his…
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Bailout Fails
In case you missed it, the vote on the bailout failed. GrassrootsPA has the PA Delegation Bailout Vote. The Club for Growth blog has a lot more on…
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Property Taxes by State and by County
The Tax Foundation has a new analysis of property taxes by state and by county. The state data shows that Pennsylvania ranks 15th in median property taxes ($2,159),…
Media
Read More: Property Taxes by State and by CountyTaxes & Economy
Bailout Updates
Bill Text Side-by-Side Comparisons CNN Summary Sales Pitch Summary Boehner’s Sales Pitch Bush’s Sales Pitch WSJ Summary Rep. Mike Pence: “Republicans…
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Will rejectors regret inaction on turnpike?
Morning Call editorial blasts lawmakers for failing to even consider a lease deal: Once again, the small-idea, under-achieving Pennsylvania Legislature has let down the people they serve. The…
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Read More: Will rejectors regret inaction on turnpike?Taxes & Economy
The case Barlett hasn’t made
Bruce Bartlett attempts to justify the bailout (“The case Bush hasn’t made”) by explaining that the financial sector is different than other sectors, that a collapse in the financial…
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Read More: The case Barlett hasn’t madeTaxes & Economy
Free Market Alternatives to the Bailout
Pat Toomey of the Club for Growth hosted a conference a call to discuss the economics of the proposed bailout. Toomey commented that the financial market does not seem…
Media
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Turnpike Lease Bid expiring – what now?
With the Turnpike lease bid expiring – and indications are there will be no extension of the $12.8 billion bid – both Governor Rendell and some lawmakers have…
Media
Read More: Turnpike Lease Bid expiring – what now?Government Accountability
Talking Free Markets with Karl Rove
I had the chance to hear Karl Rove speak at a conference hosted by Hillsdale College on “Economics and the 2008 Election.” Rove had some interesting things to say:…
Media
Read More: Talking Free Markets with Karl RoveHealth Care
PA Senate passes “slacker mandate”
The Pennsylvania Senate today passed by a 50-0 vote a “slacker mandate,” (SB 1453) requiring insurance companies to cover single, childless children of policy holders (at the policy holder’s…
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Read More: PA Senate passes “slacker mandate”Taxes & Economy
Offshore drilling ban to expire
Democrats to let offshore drilling ban expire; the American Future Fund has the details.This means that beginning October 1, companies can begin drilling in the areas highlighted…
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Upwardly Mobile America?
Good article in The American Magazine on income growth and mobility in America. If you’re like me, you can skim the text and just read the charts.
Media
Read More: Upwardly Mobile America?Education
Flunked Trailer
Flunked: The Movie is a documentary looking at the failure of our public schools, and success stories in public education. Below is the trailer. We will be hosting a…
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Read More: Flunked TrailerTaxes & Economy
Did Dwight Schrute write Paulson’s speech before Congress?
Was Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s speech before Congress plagiarized? It sounds a lot like this clip from The Office. Here is Dwight’s presentation, with Paulson’s edits: This…
Media
Read More: Did Dwight Schrute write Paulson’s speech before Congress?Regulation
Financial “crisis” a failure of government
While some pundits and media, such as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, point to the proposed bailout as demonstration of the failure of the free market, in fact it is a…
Media
Read More: Financial “crisis” a failure of governmentTaxes & Economy
Post-Gazette defends mass transit monopolies
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a nonsensical editorial opposing Mike Turzai and Mike Mustio’s legislation which would allow competition in mass transit in Pittsburgh. Currently the Port Authority of Allegheny…
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Read More: Post-Gazette defends mass transit monopoliesTaxes & Economy
More on the Proposed Bailout
More responses and info about the proposed federal bailout: Club for Growth Condemns Federal Bailout Reason: Assessing the $700 billion bailout NTU: Taxpayers are Sick…
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Read More: More on the Proposed BailoutEducation
Pittsburgh Schools: we can’t teach so give them better grades
The Pittsburgh Schools established a new policy that sets 50% as minimum score. (HT Grassroots PA). That is, if you missed all the questions on the test, you…
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Read More: Pittsburgh Schools: we can’t teach so give them better gradesGovernment Accountability
Bonus Ban(s) pass House State Government
After numerous complaints about the lack of action on reform bills (including from yours truly) the House State Government committee today voted to send two “bonus ban” bills…
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Read More: Bonus Ban(s) pass House State GovernmentState Budget
Check out Pork Parade
Congressman Jeff Flake has a new website to expose Pork from Washington. To contribute to the discussion, you can twitter with the code #pork. Twitter users can also…
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Read More: Check out Pork ParadeTaxes & Economy
Rendell not to blame for sagging PA economy
The lastest state job numbers indicate that Pennsylvania has 100,000 more unemployed persons that one year ago. Yet, Governor Rendell announces that this is due to national trends -his…
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