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.”
Taxes & Economy
PA Gets Mediocre Grade on Economic Freedom
Not suprisingly, given other state rankings, Pennsylvania gets a mediocre grade on the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of North America report for 2008. PA ranks tied for 26th…
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Read More: PA Gets Mediocre Grade on Economic FreedomTaxes & Economy
Philly population declines – only New Orleans loses more residents
A Philadelphia Inquirer article looks at Philadelphia’s population decline from 2000-2007, in which the city lost 68,000 residents (continuing a downward trend). The Post-Gazette has a related article…
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Read More: Philly population declines – only New Orleans loses more residentsPublic Union Democracy
Alliance for Worker Freedom: AFL-CIO evading taxes
I’ve seen a few stories about the AFL-CIO using union dues to run ads against John McCain, and wondered a) why are compulsory union dues for explicit political activity…
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Read More: Alliance for Worker Freedom: AFL-CIO evading taxesRegulation
Banned!
Latest Drew Carey video for Reason.tv looks at the number of things – many of them absurd – that have been banned by governments out of the nanny…
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Read More: Banned!State Budget
Kanjorski Earmark Denied
The US Department of Transportation is refusing to fund an earmark put in place by Rep. Kanjorski. The earmark was intended to fund a parking garage near Kanjorski’s monument…
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Read More: Kanjorski Earmark DeniedTaxes & Economy
Family friendly reforms
The NCPA has a new Brief Analysis highlighting “Five Family Friendly Policies” -l abor, tax, and health care reforms providing greater freedom, flexibility, and portablity for workers and employers.
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Rendell losing patience with turnpike commission
Post-Gazette reports that Governor Rendell is fed up with the Turnpike Commission’s stalling on their I-80 tolling application. He says he has been a nice guy about it,…
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Read More: Rendell losing patience with turnpike commissionEducation
Preschool Study: No Evidence of Lasting Benefits
Adam Schaeffer writes on Cato-at-liberty that a recent study of universal preschool only shows what critics of government-run day care have been saying: that they offer only short-term…
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Read More: Preschool Study: No Evidence of Lasting Benefits
Another toll-road myth demolished
The myth that governments can access cheaper infrastructure financing than the private sector – propogated by “Just Say No” Joe Markosek and his hired guns – has been…
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Read More: Another toll-road myth demolishedHealth Care
Is “universal health care” a religion?
Michael Cannon pulls a troubling quote from an advocate of SCHIP expansion, who admits his support is based on faith, not evidence. Of course Cannon is a well-known…
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Read More: Is “universal health care” a religion?Education
School boards have no control over teacher salaries?
Tony Phyrillas laughs at school board members complaining about not having control over things like teacher salaries – you know, the salaries school boards establish (typically through labor contracts)…
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Read More: School boards have no control over teacher salaries?Taxes & Economy
Steelers for sale?
In what may be a shock to Pittsburgh Steelers fans, the Wall Street Journal reports the Rooney family may be looking to sell the team (also see Tribune Review article).
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Read More: Steelers for sale?Education
Voucher Valedictorian
Andrew Coulson comments on an NRO article highlighting a DC Opportunity Scholarship recipient who just graduated at the head of her class at Archbishop Carroll High School. The…
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Read More: Voucher ValedictorianRegulation
Time to end earmarks and WAMs
Good op-ed in the Patriot News by William G. Williams on the need to end Congressional earmarks and WAMs by the PA General Assembly: For years in…
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Read More: Time to end earmarks and WAMsTaxes & Economy
Impeach JFK
Evergreen Freedom Foundation blog highlights the NEA convention adopting a resolution stating The National Education Association believes that any president who starts a war with another country without a…
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Read More: Impeach JFKGovernment Accountability
What can we cut?
An anonymous poster to GrassrootsPA defends the recently enacted state budget against criticism from the Commonwealth Foundation, along with that in other comments. The budget…
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Read More: What can we cut?Taxes & Economy
We hold these truths to be self evident
Independence Day video from the Evergreen Freedom Foundation…
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Read More: We hold these truths to be self evident
Budget Details Revealed
The House Appropriations Committee (both Democrats and Republicans) released the line items in the budget late into the night on Thursday. They will attempt to vote on the legislation today…
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Read More: Budget Details RevealedState Budget
New budget may mean deficit, higher taxes
Marc Levy of the AP reports that the new $28.2 budget agreement may, according to Senate officials (both Republicans and Democrats), result in a budget deficit of $1 billion…
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Read More: New budget may mean deficit, higher taxesRegulation
Soccer Score: Team owners: 50 million, Taxpayers: 0
Props to state Rep. RoseMarie Swanger, and 71 state House members, who attempted to end the use of taxpayer funds for a soccer stadium. Here is our recent…
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Read More: Soccer Score: Team owners: 50 million, Taxpayers: 0Health Care
Questionable Benefits of State Mandates for Health Insurance
The Pacific Research Institute a new study on the cost of health insurance mandates. As would be expected (see our commentary on autism and slacker mandates), they find…
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Read More: Questionable Benefits of State Mandates for Health Insurance