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
Corporate Welfare: Bad for Business
A Capital Commerce blog post – on the subject on whether Obama is a Marxist (concluding that he is not, but he is a…
Media
Read More: Corporate Welfare: Bad for BusinessState Budget
Rendell: Furloughs to begin July 1
The Rendell administration has announced that furloughs of non-essential state workers (which includes everyone but state troopers, prison guards, liquor store clerks, casino regulators, and of course, legislative staffers…
Media
Read More: Rendell: Furloughs to begin July 1Health Care
An American Cure for Reforming Health Care
Tom Coburn presents his proposal to reform our health care system at the Manhattan Institute. Here is the core of the argument: How do we create a real…
Media
Read More: An American Cure for Reforming Health Care
Anti-I-80 Tolling Rally set for Monday
Activists calling for repeal of Act 44 (tolling of I-80) will hold a rally at the Capitol on Monday details here. Our list of resources on Act 44/I-80 tolling…
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Read More: Anti-I-80 Tolling Rally set for MondayTaxes & Economy
PA lags behind US economy again
The latest state GDP report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that, despite a national slowdown, Pennsylvania’s economy continues to lag behind the rest of the nation. PA’s…
Media
Read More: PA lags behind US economy againGovernment Accountability
A thousand words on Bonusgate
Randy Bish sums up Bonus-Gate (and the use of taxpayer funded lawyers to defend bonusgate) in a great cartoon. (HT: Tony Phyrillas)…
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Read More: A thousand words on BonusgateRegulation
Rendell administation to address pension crisis
Budget Secretary Michael Masch (a parting shot before he leaves state government at the end of the month?) unveiled a proposal to reduce the pension shock in FY…
Media
Read More: Rendell administation to address pension crisisGovernment Accountability
Are term limits working in Michigan?
Government Bytes (the blog for NTU) points to an article (with poll) that suggests term limits for Michigan legislators should be repealed. The rationale? “Of the 3,551 bills…
Media
Read More: Are term limits working in Michigan?Government Accountability
Lawmakers who blog
Tony Phyrillas comments on PA lawmakers who blog (based on a Stateline article). They include Sen. Eichelberger, whose blog I read daily, Rep. White, who I…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers who blog
Lease opponents fail to offer all the facts
Here is my letter to the editor in the Post-Gazette (online only) on the oversight of key facts about Act 44 and a Turnpike Lease: Your May 28…
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Read More: Lease opponents fail to offer all the facts
Evans, Capelli to Introduce Lease Bill
State Rep. Dwight Evans (a Philadelphia Democrat) and Rep. Steven Capelli (a Williamsport-area Republican) will introduce a bill (HB 2593) to authorizing leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Paul Nussbaum reports in…
Media
Read More: Evans, Capelli to Introduce Lease BillTaxes & Economy
A Corporate Tax Cut Benefits All
Greg Mankiw has a great opinion piece in the NY Times on the benefits of reducing the corporate income tax: In fact, a corporate rate cut would…
Media
Read More: A Corporate Tax Cut Benefits AllTaxes & Economy
Was Jesus a Libertarian?
Michael Gerson, the architect of all that “Compassionate Conservative” nonsense, had a column in the Washington Post claiming Jesus was not a libertarian (or even a fiscal conservative with…
Media
Read More: Was Jesus a Libertarian?Health Care
More evidence on the failure of RomneyCare
Michael Tanner blasts positive media coverage of a new report on Massachusetts health care, pointing out the many reasons why RomneyCare is a failure (from the same report). Tanner…
Media
Read More: More evidence on the failure of RomneyCareEducation
Real Savings: Cutting Cybers vs. School Choice
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and Post-Gazette have stories on the renewed push to reduce cyber school funding. Rep. Karen Beyer and other proponents are touting that: The bill…
Media
Read More: Real Savings: Cutting Cybers vs. School ChoiceEducation
Charter Schools Make the Grade
Bob Maranto has an editorial in the Philadelphia Daily News on the reporting on charter school scandals. He notes that charter schools are more accountable – in that they…
Media
Read More: Charter Schools Make the GradeRegulation
Smoking Bans Ain’t Cool, Unless You’re a Fool
The conference committee on banning private businesses’ right to allow smoking in their establishments has finally reported a bill. GrassrootsPA has the news roundup. I have written on this…
Media
Read More: Smoking Bans Ain’t Cool, Unless You’re a Fool
Abolish the Turnpike Commission?
Rock the Capital has a new report looking at the history, efficiency, and corruption of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, raising the question of whether there is any need for…
Media
Read More: Abolish the Turnpike Commission?Regulation
We Don’t Need a Climate Tax on the Poor
Sen. Inhofe in today’s Wall Street Journal outlines the consequences of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act: The Lieberman-Warner bill (America’s Climate Security Act) represents the largest tax increase…
Media
Read More: We Don’t Need a Climate Tax on the Poor
Rendell tells PTC, “Stop Stalling!”
Governor Rendell has called out the Turnpike Commission for stalling on resubmitting their I-80 tolling application.But noting that Governor Rendell also stated that it will be…
Media
Read More: Rendell tells PTC, “Stop Stalling!”Government Accountability
Secret budget meetings have begun
John Micek reports on (and mocks) Governor Rendell’s press conference on the state budget yesterday: Rendell and some House Democrats called for an end to the annual posturing…
Media
Read More: Secret budget meetings have begun