Nathan Benefield
Chief Policy Officer
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 Chief Policy Officer , 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.”
Regulation
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.
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
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…
Media
Read More: Should have studied Chemical Engineering at Dartmouth
The “fairness” of tolling I-80
Here is my letter to the editor in the Intelligencer Journal Your July 28 editorial, “No free way,” implies that tolling I-80 is somehow more “fair” than a…
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Read More: The “fairness” of tolling I-80Taxes & Economy
Give Exxon a break
The Los Angeles Times editorializes about why Exxon is getting a bad rap for “record profits“. Although crude oil is selling for almost twice as much a…
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Read More: Give Exxon a breakGovernment Accountability
Absurd statement of the day
The attorney for Sean Ramaley – who was indicted in the bonusgate scandal (accused of taking a no-work job to campaign for the House, and dropped his bid for…
Media
Read More: Absurd statement of the dayGovernment Accountability
Too little… too late
Lowman Henry weighs in on the House State Government Committee’s upcoming hearing on reducing the size of the legislature. He doesn’t say much on the merits of the proposal…
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Read More: Too little… too lateTaxes & Economy
Comments on the Milton Friedman Institute Protest letter
A U of Chicago faculty member responds to the absurd protest objecting to a Milton Friedman Institute, pointing out not only the blatant hypocrisy and misguided economic assumptions,…
Media
Read More: Comments on the Milton Friedman Institute Protest letterEducation
Less than 60% of black males graduate in PA
The Schott Foundation has a new report out on black male graduation rates – in public schools – and the gap between black and white performance. In PA,…
Media
Read More: Less than 60% of black males graduate in PAGovernment Accountability
How Many Wives Is Too Many?
John Stossel has a Townhall Commentary, likely to be controversial among the Townhall readers, about polygamy. He quotes one polygamist activist (not sure if there is more than one):…
Media
Read More: How Many Wives Is Too Many?Government Accountability
Legal fees double taxpayers’ cost in bonus scandal
Tribune Review story highlights the millions of taxpayer dollars spent on legal fees – the bulk by House Democrats – in response to the bonusgate investigation. Taxpayers picked…
Media
Read More: Legal fees double taxpayers’ cost in bonus scandalTaxes & Economy
Even heroes can misspend other people’s money
Two separate letters to the editor in the Patriot News denounce the Commonwealth Foundation for commenting on Colonel Miller’s flights to other states. Here is Matt Brouillette’s quote in…
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Read More: Even heroes can misspend other people’s moneyTaxes & Economy
Get the Feds out of Transportation Funding
While Governor Rendell is calling on more money from the federal government for bridge repair (while refusing to address over-spending, which his own Transportation Funding Commission said should…
Media
Read More: Get the Feds out of Transportation FundingHealth Care
The Price of RomneyCare
Wall Street Journal on the escalating costs of the Massachusetts health care plan (RomneyCare): Thus the extra tab of $129 million, which may need to go higher…
Media
Read More: The Price of RomneyCare