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
Pennsylvania not only state looking at Constitutional Convention
Today’s Policies and Principles Luncheon will focus discuss whether Pennsylvania needs to hold a Constitutional Convention (see also Sen. Piccola’s commentary on the need for a Convention on…
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Read More: Pennsylvania not only state looking at Constitutional Convention
Turnpike Commission looking for private firms to finish projects
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission – which has fought hard against allowing an “evil, for profit company” lease the Turnpike – is looking concessionaires to finish the Mon Fayette/Southern Beltway…
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Read More: Turnpike Commission looking for private firms to finish projectsHealth Care
How free is PA’s health care market?
The Pacific Research Institute released their U.S. Index of Health Ownership, 2008 last week (full report in PDF). The report ranks states’ health care markets and regulations based…
Media
Read More: How free is PA’s health care market?Taxes & Economy
Five Ways to Wreck a Recovery
Amity Shlaes offers lessons from Hoover and FDR on how to extend a recession and make it worse (hint: do the opposite): 1) Give in to protectionism2) Blame…
Media
Read More: Five Ways to Wreck a RecoveryEducation
Voices of school choice … and how to get involved
The REACH Foundation has a new “Voices of School Choice” profile on its website. This one is about Katie, who writes about how the choice of going to cyber…
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Read More: Voices of school choice … and how to get involvedTaxes & Economy
I-80 plan relies on traffic growth, while drivers are driving less
Congressman Peterson, the lead critic of tolling I-80, makes an astute observation: the Turnpike Commission’s financial model relies on I-80 traffic growing 2.5% annually. Yet a recent…
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Read More: I-80 plan relies on traffic growth, while drivers are driving lessTaxes & Economy
Silly Senator, Corn is for Food!
ReasonTV video looks at the ethanol craze: Ethanol, especially the corn-based variety, is bad for taxpayers, bad for consumers, bad for the environment, and horrible for the world’s…
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Read More: Silly Senator, Corn is for Food!Taxes & Economy
Only 40 states have a better business climate than Pennsylvania
Forbes has issued its latest report on “The Best States for Business“. Pennsylvania ranks 41st. (Click here for the table). Amazingly, despite Governor Rendell’s “investments” in our…
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Read More: Only 40 states have a better business climate than PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Are corporations dodging taxes?
The AP had a story yesterday headlined, “Most companies in US avoid federal income taxes” (full study). Governor Rendell frequently makes this claim as well, when defending Pennsylvania’s…
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Read More: Are corporations dodging taxes?Health Care
Reduce the number of uninsured 25% – for free
A new study by University of Minnesota researchers finds that a simply policy change would reduce the number of uninsured by 25 to 33 percent (Greg Scandlen has a…
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Read More: Reduce the number of uninsured 25% – for freeTaxes & Economy
Texas Is Fed Up With Corn Ethanol
Texas Governor Rick Perry in the Wall Street Journal on why the EPA needs to suspend the mandate to produce more ethanol – which is, according to Perry and…
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Read More: Texas Is Fed Up With Corn EthanolRegulation
Steelers, developer ask state to help subsidize amphitheater
Post-Gazette story on the demand that taxpayers pay $4 million dollars for an amphitheater. (HT GrassrootsPA). The developer notes, “the entertainment complex itself will be a source of…
Media
Read More: Steelers, developer ask state to help subsidize amphitheater
Fact-checking the “sale” of the Turnpike to “the Portuguese”
Ben Ober responds to a xenophobic screed against “selling the Turnpike to the Portuguese” – though no one is proposing a sale and no one from Portugal is involved.
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Read More: Fact-checking the “sale” of the Turnpike to “the Portuguese”Regulation
Rendellconomics 101
Morning Call piece piece by Jarrett Renshaw debates the merits of Rendell’s economic policies – borrowing (to be paid by taxpayers) to give handouts to his favorite projects like…
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Read More: Rendellconomics 101Taxes & Economy
Turnpike Commission will cost Taxpayers $37 Billion
Critics of a Turnpike lease—including Rep. Joe Markosek—have offered the claim that Act 44, even without tolling of I-80, represents more revenue to taxpayers of the state than a…
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Read More: Turnpike Commission will cost Taxpayers $37 BillionGovernment Accountability
Bonusgate, corruption, and reform news
There are plenty of stories on corruption and reform in today’s papers: DeWeese under fire: State Rep. Josh Shapiro calls on House Majority Leader Bill Deweese to stop down…
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Read More: Bonusgate, corruption, and reform newsTaxes & Economy
Ranking the Roads
Reason Foundation has released their annual ranking on the peformance of state highway systems. Pennsylvania ranks middle to low on most performance measures, but – this may suprise many who listen to Governor…
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Read More: Ranking the RoadsState Budget
Is the “far right” a losing proposition?
Michael Smerconish – who gets mis-identified as a conservative due to his shaved head and glasses – calls for the GOP to act more “moderate” in order to win…
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Read More: Is the “far right” a losing proposition?Education
Public Education vs. Public Schooling
Neal McCluskey on the difference between “public education” and monopoly of government-run schools: Fortunately, there is a term that does strongly imply a system in which government provides…
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Read More: Public Education vs. Public SchoolingRegulation
Why you can’t use cell phones on planes
Anyone who has flown before is quite familiar with the message from flight crews to turn off your cell phones. But did you ever wonder why that is required? Security…
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Read More: Why you can’t use cell phones on planesEducation
Should have studied Chemical Engineering at Dartmouth
WSJ.com has some interactive data on salaries of graduates by college, as well as by major. I was suprised that the median mid-career salary for my alma…
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Read More: Should have studied Chemical Engineering at Dartmouth