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.”

State Budget

Most Pennsylvania Congressmen fail rating of pork votes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 28, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: Most Pennsylvania Congressmen fail rating of pork votes

Taxes & Economy

Indiana has benefited from toll road lease

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 28, 2008

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 lease

Government Accountability

Thomas Jefferson: Blogger

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 27, 2008

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: Blogger

Taxes & Economy

How Do You Define “American-Made”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 27, 2008

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 26, 2008

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 lease

Taxes & Economy

Even The Mere Threat Of Drilling Will Bring Down The Price Of Oil

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 26, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: Even The Mere Threat Of Drilling Will Bring Down The Price Of Oil

Government Accountability

Should 18 year-olds be allowed to drink (legally)?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 26, 2008

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2008

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 Claus

Education

The Competitive Impact of School Choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: The Competitive Impact of School Choice

Government Accountability

16 days of work in six months may tire House

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2008

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 House

Education

Is PHEAA reformable?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: Is PHEAA reformable?

Education

School Choice Benefits Ohio Public Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: School Choice Benefits Ohio Public Schools

Education

Protect Our Kids from Preschool

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2008

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 Preschool

Regulation

Rendell: “Pennsylvania’s economy is awesome, thanks to me”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 22, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: Rendell: “Pennsylvania’s economy is awesome, thanks to me”

Taxes & Economy

In praise of compromise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 21, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: In praise of compromise

Government Accountability

California Lawmaker Kicked Out of Capitol

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 21, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: California Lawmaker Kicked Out of Capitol

Government Accountability

Missouri study of merit selection of judges

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 21, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: Missouri study of merit selection of judges

Government Accountability

Is Pennsylvania Ready for a Constitutional Convention?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 20, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: Is Pennsylvania Ready for a Constitutional Convention?

Education

Phix PHEAA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 20, 2008

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

Read More: Phix PHEAA

Government Accountability

Reform doesn’t mean suing to get candidates off the ballot

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 19, 2008

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…

Media

Read More: Reform doesn’t mean suing to get candidates off the ballot