Nathan Benefield

Nathan Benefield

Chief Policy Officer

Nathan (Nate) Benefield is the Chief Policy Officer 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 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.”

Government Accountability

“Easy” Real Change, by Newt Gingrich

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 18, 2008

As promised, here is my review of Newt Gingrich’s latest book, Real Change. This was a frustrating read for me. For starters, Newt’s premise is how we…

Media

Read More: “Easy” Real Change, by Newt Gingrich

Education

Answers to Attacks on Cyber Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 17, 2008

One of our loyal readers asked for some help responding to attacks on Cyber School Funding and a lobbying effort by Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) in support of HB…

Media

Read More: Answers to Attacks on Cyber Schools

State Budget

Make Cardboard Checks Vanish

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 17, 2008

Senator Eichelberger’s stand against posing with cardboard checks when handing out taxpayer-funded grants is getting attention across the state, with a story in the Morning-Call, and…

Media

Read More: Make Cardboard Checks Vanish

Taxes & Economy

Turnpike Lease Bids Due April 30

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 17, 2008

Governor Rendell has announced that bids for leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike will be due at or near the end of April. He also announced many of the terms…

Media

Read More: Turnpike Lease Bids Due April 30

Education

New Education Blog

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 16, 2008

The Fordham Foundation has launched a new blog on education called Flypaper. A couple good posts in their first two days are this one on highlighting “surprising” story…

Media

Read More: New Education Blog

Taxes & Economy

Candidate Surveys

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 16, 2008

Here are some candidate surveys for state legislative candidates: PA Right to Work Stop Teacher Strikes Democracy Rising Project Vote Smart…

Media

Read More: Candidate Surveys

Taxes & Economy

Taxpayer Cost of Family Fragmentation

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 16, 2008

A new report on the taxpayer cost of family breakdown (i.e. divorce and family breakdown), putting the cost to PA taxpayers at over $2 billion annually. Click…

Media

Read More: Taxpayer Cost of Family Fragmentation

Government Accountability

Book Review: Leave us Alone

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 15, 2008

I am blogging from Seattle, where I am attending a conference on government transparency. One of the best aspects of flying across the county is catching up on some reading.

Media

Read More: Book Review: Leave us Alone

State Budget

Time for a Spending Diet

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 15, 2008

As Pennsylvania taxpayers breath a collective sigh of relief after completing their 2007 tax returns, another tax day is looming. But this is a day to celebrate. It’s Tax Freedom…

Commentary

Read More: Time for a Spending Diet

Taxes & Economy

What are “purely conservative principles”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 15, 2008

Michael Smerconish comments on the “blueing” of the Philadelphia suburbs (HT: Grassroots PA). Smerconish dismisses the idea that residents are fleeing Philadelphia for the suburbs, noting that…

Media

Read More: What are “purely conservative principles”?

Health Care

“Stupid Hicks” Oppose Big Government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 15, 2008

I wasn’t going to post anything on Barack Obama’s comments about people “clinging” to guns and religion, until Philadelphia Daily News columnist John Baer offered his Obama can…

Media

Read More: “Stupid Hicks” Oppose Big Government

Taxes & Economy

‘Government cannot spend its way out of a recession’

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 14, 2008

Tony Phyrillas summarizes the House Republicans’ tax reduction package unveiled today. The legislation includes:· Implementing Compete PA business tax relief, which includes removing the cap on net…

Media

Read More: ‘Government cannot spend its way out of a recession’

Penn Pike may require larger toll increases

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 14, 2008

More bad news on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission – Toll Roads News reports that Fitch Ratings has downgraded the PTC’s bond rating, saying that the Act 44 promises may…

Media

Read More: Penn Pike may require larger toll increases

State Budget

Bringing home the bacon gets a slap in the face

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 13, 2008

The York Daily Record has an article on state lawmakers and administration officials’ penchant for posing with cardboard checks – i.e. “Ed McMahon syndrome” – prompted by Senator…

Media

Read More: Bringing home the bacon gets a slap in the face

Taxes & Economy

10 Businesses Facing Extinction in 10 Years

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 12, 2008

Entrepreneur.com has an intriguing article on businesses facing extinction (HT Carpe Diem). Some of the selections are obvious, and have already seen major declines (pay phones, camera film…

Media

Read More: 10 Businesses Facing Extinction in 10 Years

Why are taxpayers still subsidizing the Turnpike?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 12, 2008

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is objecting vigorously to the notion that they are among the least efficient toll roads, along with touting their subsidies to the state (which are…

Media

Read More: Why are taxpayers still subsidizing the Turnpike?

Education

Edifice Complex at Work

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 11, 2008

In our report, Edifice Complex: Where has all the Money Gone we looked at the fastest growing cost for school districts, and what is driving property taxes…

Media

Read More: Edifice Complex at Work

PA Turnpike’s Operating Costs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 11, 2008

In the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article on Reason’s report that the PA Turnpike is one of the least efficient toll roads in the nation (see here), the Turnpike Commission…

Media

Read More: PA Turnpike’s Operating Costs

Taxes & Economy

PA’s “liberal” population shift

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 10, 2008

The Philadelphia Inquirer has an article remarking on Pennsylvania’s demographic changes, noting that the state is gaining population in the eastern part and losing population in the west –…

Media

Read More: PA’s “liberal” population shift

Taxes & Economy

Another Mediocre Rank for PA Business Climate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 10, 2008

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council has new report on Business Tax Index 2008, look at the best tax climate for small businesses. Pennsylvania, as has been a recurring…

Media

Read More: Another Mediocre Rank for PA Business Climate