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
Most Pennsylvania Congressmen fail rating of pork votes
The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste released their 2007 Congressional ratings, ranking members on their votes on pork-barrel spending. Among the Pennsylvania delegation, only Joe Pitts scores above…
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Indiana has benefited from toll road lease
An anonymous comment on a recent post accused me of not mentioning the Indiana Toll Road deal because it was “not so good, a bad move”. Of course, we…
Media
Read More: Indiana has benefited from toll road leaseGovernment Accountability
Thomas Jefferson: Blogger
While I thought we had the most influential blog around (or at least number 7), this Jefferson guy from Charlottesville seems to be quoted quite a bit.
Media
Read More: Thomas Jefferson: BloggerTaxes & Economy
How Do You Define “American-Made”?
Mark Perry poses the question about how you define “American-made” cars. Does it depend on where the car was assembled? Where the corporate headquarters is? What percentage of the…
Media
Read More: How Do You Define “American-Made”?Taxes & Economy
Pennsylvania could become policy innovator with turnpike lease
The Wall Street Journal had a fairly lengthy cover story on the proposal to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Among the points addressed 1) Other states are looking to PA…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania could become policy innovator with turnpike leaseTaxes & Economy
Even The Mere Threat Of Drilling Will Bring Down The Price Of Oil
Don Chance has an editorial on IBDeditorials.com on how drilling now – or even threatening to – will reduce price of oil immediately. Essentially it encourages those storing oil…
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Read More: Even The Mere Threat Of Drilling Will Bring Down The Price Of OilGovernment Accountability
Should 18 year-olds be allowed to drink (legally)?
A large group of college presidents have launched an initiative to lower the legal drinking age from 21 to18. Their argument is that 18 to 21 year…
Media
Read More: Should 18 year-olds be allowed to drink (legally)?State Budget
He’s not Santa Claus
The Herald Standard has an editorial about all of Governor Rendell’s taxpayer-funded “gifts” to Pennsylvania. While they don’t claim that any of these expenditures are misguided (though we pull…
Media
Read More: He’s not Santa ClausEducation
The Competitive Impact of School Choice
A reader asks, in response to a post about a study show school choice in Ohio had a competitive benefit to public schools, Do you have…
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Read More: The Competitive Impact of School ChoiceGovernment Accountability
16 days of work in six months may tire House
Eric Heyl, with a hint of sarcasm, suggests that the 16 days the PA House (and the 10 days for the PA Senate) is scheduled to be in session between July…
Media
Read More: 16 days of work in six months may tire HouseEducation
Is PHEAA reformable?
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review questions whether PHEAA can be reformed, as the Auditor General suggests, given that the legislators who dominate the PHEAA board don’t think legislators should vote to…
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Read More: Is PHEAA reformable?Education
School Choice Benefits Ohio Public Schools
A new study from the Friedman Foundation finds that Ohio’s EdChoice voucher program – offering scholarships to students in failing schools – resulted in academic improvements in voucher-eligible public…
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Read More: School Choice Benefits Ohio Public SchoolsEducation
Protect Our Kids from Preschool
Shikha Dalmia and Lisa Snell have a an editorial in the Wall Street Journal about the merits of universal preschool: In the last half-century, U.S. preschool attendance…
Media
Read More: Protect Our Kids from PreschoolRegulation
Rendell: “Pennsylvania’s economy is awesome, thanks to me”
Hat Tip to Tony Phryillas for this story I almost missed – Governor Rendell attacked the Allegheny Institute for pointing out that Pennsylvania’s exorbitant economic development spending…
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Read More: Rendell: “Pennsylvania’s economy is awesome, thanks to me”Taxes & Economy
In praise of compromise
The May edition of The Freeman has a creat commentary on Compromise, Principles, and Politics. Essentially the piece makes the point that “compromise” (or “bipartisanship”) in politics is akin to…
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Read More: In praise of compromiseGovernment Accountability
California Lawmaker Kicked Out of Capitol
From The Club For Growth blog: Democratic leaders in the California legislature kicked Assemblywoman Nicole Parra out of the Capitol building because she didn’t…
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Read More: California Lawmaker Kicked Out of CapitolGovernment Accountability
Missouri study of merit selection of judges
One topic that came up in our luncheon on a state Constitutional Convention was merit selection of judges (we also held a luncheon on that topic earlier this…
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Read More: Missouri study of merit selection of judgesGovernment Accountability
Is Pennsylvania Ready for a Constitutional Convention?
Video from yesterday’s luncheon on Reviving Reform: Is it Time for a Constitutional Convention? featuring Sen. Jeff Piccola and Rep. Rosemarie Swanger is now available on our YouTube…
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Read More: Is Pennsylvania Ready for a Constitutional Convention?Education
Phix PHEAA
Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner has released his audit of PHEAA, recommending among other things that PHEAA’s board not be dominated by legislators (news release here). Wagner does…
Media
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Tax Foundation’s CompeteUSA has great info on business taxes
The Tax Foundation launched a new website, CompeteUSA, that has a lot of fact about corporate taxes in the US (including that PA has the 2nd highest combined…
Media
Read More: Tax Foundation’s CompeteUSA has great info on business taxesGovernment Accountability
Reform doesn’t mean suing to get candidates off the ballot
Last month, as part of the bonusgate indictments, PA House Democratic representatives and staffers were accused of illegally using taxpayer money to challenge petitions and effectively get Ralph Nader off…
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Read More: Reform doesn’t mean suing to get candidates off the ballot