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.”
Repeal Act 44 Videos
Hat Tip to Grassroots PA for pointing out these absurd but hilarious videos calling for a repeal of Act 44. My favorite is the video below featuring two…
Media
Read More: Repeal Act 44 VideosHealth Care
MCare: End it, Don’t Extend It
Governor Rendell and House Democrats have refused to extend the MCare abatements unless it is tied to their Cover All Pennsylvania’s/PA ABC plan (read my commentary…
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Read More: MCare: End it, Don’t Extend ItHealth Care
Give Consumers Choices in Health Care
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently passed a modified version of Governor Rendell’s "Cover All Pennsylvanians"—renaming it PA ABC (Access to Basic Care). Despite the clever acronym, the program…
Commentary
Read More: Give Consumers Choices in Health CareTaxes & Economy
NTU: Return Legislative Surplus to Taxpayers
The National Taxpayers Union sent an open letter to Pennsylvania legislators urging them to return the estimated $240 million surplus in legislative leadership accounts in the form of tax…
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Read More: NTU: Return Legislative Surplus to TaxpayersEducation
New Reports on Education and School Choice
Here are a few new reports that make for handy reference guides for legislators, advocates, researchers, or anyone interested in education reform. American Legislative Exchange Council: 2007…
Media
Read More: New Reports on Education and School ChoiceTaxes & Economy
Those wacky truckers
As anyone in the Harrisburg area would have noticed this morning, the Truck Drivers are coming into town to protest high diesel prices. Without even addressing their proposal (a…
Media
Read More: Those wacky truckersTaxes & Economy
What’s a Charity?
A recent blog post on the Tax Foundation blog points to an analysis they did on the tax treatment of charities, which I found to be quite intriguing.
Media
Read More: What’s a Charity?Education
School Choice Tax Credit Saves Money in IL
An analysis by the Illinois Policy Institute of the Illinois Education Expense Tax Credit finds that an increase on the cap for that credit to $4,000 per child would…
Media
Read More: School Choice Tax Credit Saves Money in ILEducation
Merit selection and education lawsuits
Our sister think tank, the Show Me Institute, has an interesting post on the intersection of merit selection of judges (i.e. the Missouri Plan) and education cases – namely…
Media
Read More: Merit selection and education lawsuitsHealth Care
RendellCare lobbyists push socialist pricing
The lobbyists charged with pushing RendellCare InsurePANow has fired off another missive advocating more of Rendell’s health care agenda. They tout a bill that they proclaim will “make insurance…
Media
Read More: RendellCare lobbyists push socialist pricingEducation
Salaries for 120,000 PA teachers
Stop Teacher Strikes has the data here.
Media
Read More: Salaries for 120,000 PA teachersState Budget
$100 Trillion Dollars in Debt!
John Goodman analyzes the latest report of unfunded Social Security and Medicare liabilities and come up with the grand total of $102 Trillion for the “infinite horizon” (after reducing…
Media
Read More: $100 Trillion Dollars in Debt!Taxes & Economy
Rendell pleads for more spending
Tony Phyrillas comments on Governor Rendell’s latest plea for legislators to borrow, tax, and spend more. Rendell claims that for a few dollars more, he can fix all our…
Media
Read More: Rendell pleads for more spendingGovernment Accountability
Merit Selection Not so Meritorious?
Intriguing article in the Wall Street Journal on merit selection of judges, and John Grisham’s latest novel, (HT to PA Clean Sweep), that is timely given…
Media
Read More: Merit Selection Not so Meritorious?Taxes & Economy
Higher Fuel Taxes Won’t Help Anything
John Hood editorial in Investor’s Business Daily on fuel taxes – pointing to both the absurd earmarks that the federal gas tax funds and the need to…
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Read More: Higher Fuel Taxes Won’t Help AnythingTaxes & Economy
Tax Freedom Day for PA is April 21
The Tax Foundation released their annual report on Tax Freedom Day today. The national Tax Freedom day will be April 23 – the number of days it takes for…
Media
Read More: Tax Freedom Day for PA is April 21Education
Lobbying by State Universities
The blog, “Left of Centre,” has some details about lobbying by PA’s state universities, following up an article in the Daily Collegian. Of interest to those following lobbying…
Media
Read More: Lobbying by State UniversitiesTaxes & Economy
Book of Charts – Federal Revenue and Spending
The Heritage Foundation has released their “Book of Charts” on federal taxes and spending, and other data, for 2008.
Media
Read More: Book of Charts – Federal Revenue and SpendingTaxes & Economy
Trade and National Defense
Don Boudreaux has an interesting discussion over at Cafe Hayek about the controversy over foreign companies contracting with the US Department of Defense (i.e. Airbus). His dismisses most of…
Media
Read More: Trade and National DefenseTaxes & Economy
Which states give retirees the best deal?
MSN Money quantifies which state is the best for retirees – in terms of taxes paid. Their assumption is a couple earning $60,000 – all from retirement income/pensions –…
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Read More: Which states give retirees the best deal?State Budget
The “Ed McMahon” Syndrome
The Republican Herald discusses Rep. Tim Holden’s earmarks, which his challenger, Toni Gilhooley labels “Ed McMahon” syndrome because of his desire to hand out large cardboard checks (a phrase…
Media
Read More: The “Ed McMahon” Syndrome