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.”
Taxes & Economy
Thoughts on the bailout plan
Heritage Foundation has a Webmemo on the federal plans to bail out the mortgage market, along with a list of recommendations. You can get the legislation…
Media
Read More: Thoughts on the bailout planPublic Union Democracy
More Union Dues spent on Politics
The Union Label blog writes on how AFSCME (the union for government workers) is using union dues to attack candidates for office (see USA Today story as well).
Media
Read More: More Union Dues spent on PoliticsTaxes & Economy
The Worst Energy Ideas of 2008
The American Magazine has an article on the worst energy ideas, including: “energy independence,” and “green jobs”. On that front, Pete DuPont has a WSJ column on the…
Media
Read More: The Worst Energy Ideas of 2008Taxes & Economy
Supporters Argue for Turnpike Lease
ABC 27 News story on the Turnpike Lease, featuring the motley crew of supporters: Matt Brouillette, Gov. Ed Rendell, Howard Yerusalim (former PennDOT Secretary under Bob Casey) and Rep.Dan…
Media
Read More: Supporters Argue for Turnpike LeaseTaxes & Economy
Are lower taxes unpatriotic?
Alex Charyna from PA Watercooler told me we are being unpatriotic. Why? While we are calling for budgetary measures to avoid higher taxes, Joe Biden is telling us…
Media
Read More: Are lower taxes unpatriotic?Government Accountability
Election Protection – The Nation’s Largest Nonpartisan Voter Protection Coalition (Draft)
Election Protection – The Nation’s Largest Nonpartisan Voter Protection Coalition…
Media
Read More: Election Protection – The Nation’s Largest Nonpartisan Voter Protection Coalition (Draft)Government Accountability
Follow the Commonwealth Foundation on Twitter
The Commonwealth Foundation is now on Twitter. If you Twitter, or thinking of signing up to show how young and hip you are (do the young and hip still…
Media
Read More: Follow the Commonwealth Foundation on TwitterGovernment Accountability
Discharge resolution on bonus ban bill
Representative Brad Roae sends us this regarding his discharge resolution for SB 986, the “Bonus Ban” “On Monday I turned in a Discharge Resolution to pull the bill…
Media
Read More: Discharge resolution on bonus ban billPublic Union Democracy
AFSCME opposes unlimited government?!?
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (which runs 14 state universities, but not the “state-related” schools like Penn State and Pitt), banned all smoking on campus, both indoor and…
Media
Read More: AFSCME opposes unlimited government?!?Government Accountability
Why a special session on reform is needed
During a press conference calling on Cerberus and the House Democrats to pass a number of reform bills already passed unanimously by the Senate, contending that a special…
Media
Read More: Why a special session on reform is neededState Budget
Rendell orders budget cuts, hiring freeze
Following reports that tax revenue is well behind projections, Governor Rendell has announced plans to reduce state spending by $200 million, including ending (taxpayer funded) out-of-state travel by…
Media
Read More: Rendell orders budget cuts, hiring freezeTaxes & Economy
Turnpike Lease Back On The Table
The Philadelphia Bulletin has an article on the Turnpike lease facing real consideration now; the Daily Collegian and the Daily Item have similar pieces (HT GrassrootsPA).
Media
Read More: Turnpike Lease Back On The TableGovernment Accountability
Great Website on Fiscal Responsibility
Americans for Tax Reform has launched its Center for Fiscal Responsibility, a fantastic site dedicated to (as the name implies) fiscal responsibility in federal state and local government. I…
Media
Read More: Great Website on Fiscal ResponsibilityTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Turnpike Lease: Two years of deliberation
An anonymous poster remarks that “we don’t want to rush into anything (like leasing the Turnpike)”, and compares it to the rush to pass Act 44. He/she is correct…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Lease: Two years of deliberationState Budget
Why state governments spend too much
A report from the Rockefeller Institute at SUNY (news release) looks at state and local government spending on social welfare. After adjusting for inflation, they found that expenditures…
Media
Read More: Why state governments spend too muchGovernment Accountability
New Blog: Snippets of PA Capitol Coverage
Pennsylvania Legislative Service has a new blog, which will include some of their coverage of happenings at the state Capitol (previously available only to paid subscribers) such as wrap…
Media
Read More: New Blog: Snippets of PA Capitol CoverageTaxes & Economy
What now for Pennsylvania transportation funding, turnpike lease?
Joe Grata has an article in the Post-Gazette on what will happen now that the federal government has rejected I-80 tolling in Pennsylvania. As we pointed out…
Media
Read More: What now for Pennsylvania transportation funding, turnpike lease?State Budget
Lancaster County delegation doles out $3 million in WAMs
LancasterOnline breaks down the taxpayer-funded pork projects (WAMs) awarded by Lancaster County lawmakers. (HT: GrassrootsPA)…
Media
Read More: Lancaster County delegation doles out $3 million in WAMsGovernment Accountability
DeWeese boasts about House reforms
The Herald Standard has an article in which Bill DeWeese praises all the reforms the House has done under his watch. Eric Epstein and Tim Potts offer…
Media
Read More: DeWeese boasts about House reformsEducation
The Harriet Tubman of School Choice
I’m in Phoenix for a conference of state think tanks and (with panels on education reform today), so I won’t be blogging much over the next few days. I will…
Media
Read More: The Harriet Tubman of School Choice
Tolling I-80 and the Presidential Election
The theme of change has dominated the presidential election. Both Barack Obama and John McCain (and their vice presidential picks) tout themselves as agents of change, ready to reform…
Commentary
Read More: Tolling I-80 and the Presidential Election