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
Daylight Saving Wastes Energy
A new study show that daylight savings time result in higher energy use, reports the Wall Street Journal, examing the effect of Indiana’s recent move to DST. Daylight Savings…
Media
Read More: Daylight Saving Wastes EnergyGovernment Accountability
RIP William F. Buckley
Roundup of obituaries, blogs, and other comments on conservative icon William F. Buckley Jr., who passed away at 82 today. National Review OnlineWashington Post ObituaryReason…
Media
Read More: RIP William F. BuckleyTaxes & Economy
Wages Are a Price, Too
A good chart of wages vs. inflation on the CARPE DIEM blog, along with a criticism of today’s Wall Street Journal article on inflation (and a humorous transposition…
Media
Read More: Wages Are a Price, Too
Act 1 Indexes
Allegheny Institute Blog looks at Act 1 “Indexes” for 2008 – the level each school district can increase property taxes without referendum, before exemptions are included. The complete list…
Media
Read More: Act 1 IndexesTaxes & Economy
Bio-Foolish Behavior
IBD Editorial on the lack of common sense in pushing for additional bio-fuel mandates and taxpayer subsidy: In 2005, America used 15% of its corn crop to replace…
Media
Read More: Bio-Foolish BehaviorPublic Union Democracy
Broad Based Coalition Supports Davis-Bacon Reform
News release from the Alliance for Worker Freedom on coalition of organizations (including the Commonwealth Foundation) supporting Davis-Bacon reform: According to James Sherk of the Heritage Foundation, “In…
Media
Read More: Broad Based Coalition Supports Davis-Bacon Reform
Turnpike Ad Campaign Opposes Lease Plan
KDKA TV story on the PA Turnpike’s use of toll revenue to fund a $300,000 advertising campaign to defends its fiefdom, while highlighting their excesses and recent…
Media
Read More: Turnpike Ad Campaign Opposes Lease Plan
Tolling I-80 or leasing the turnpike–how will we pay to fix our roads and bridges?
Video – Matt Brouillette vs. Joe Brimmeier (and other guests) on leasing the Turnpike and tolling I-80.
Media
Read More: Tolling I-80 or leasing the turnpike–how will we pay to fix our roads and bridges?Education
Study: Milwaukee school choice program saves taxpayers money
A new study released by the School Choice Demonstration Project at the University of Arkansas, demonstrates how Milwaukee’s Parental Choice Program saves Wisconsin taxpayers money, as voucher amounts are…
Media
Read More: Study: Milwaukee school choice program saves taxpayers moneyHealth Care
Obama v. McCain on Health Care
Cato Daily Podcast with Michael Tanner on the differences between McCain and Obama – and the constrast of market-based reform vs. expansion of government – on health care.
Media
Read More: Obama v. McCain on Health CareTaxes & Economy
The Laffer Curve, Part II
Second part in the video series on the Laffer Curve – this video looks at real examples of how tax cuts result in economic and revenue growth.
Media
Read More: The Laffer Curve, Part IIHealth Care
RendellCare: What Would Jesus Do?
Remember the passage in the Bible where Jesus called upon the Roman Empire to provide universal, government-run health insurance? What! There’s no such passage? Perhaps someone should point that…
Commentary
Read More: RendellCare: What Would Jesus Do?Health Care
Semonizing on RendellCare
Morning Call article and Post-Gazette piece on the planned “CAP Sunday” and campaign to use sermons to promote RendellCare. (HT: GrassrootsPA) I’ve written on Jesus and…
Media
Read More: Semonizing on RendellCareGovernment Accountability
Odds of Dying by Cause
Interesting data from the National Safety Council on Odds of Dying for non-natural causes of death. Surprising figures The “safest way to travel” appears to be by streetcar, followed…
Media
Read More: Odds of Dying by CauseGovernment Accountability
Q&A on Open Records
FAQ on the new Open Records Law from the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.
Media
Read More: Q&A on Open RecordsRegulation
Corporate Welfare responsible for 125% of new jobs
A new study and press conference today by the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association (PEDA) takes credit for helping to “create” 186,000 jobs in PA from 2003 through…
Media
Read More: Corporate Welfare responsible for 125% of new jobsTaxes & Economy
The Running Total Of Our Taxes
One blog I have been following is Taxation With Representation, in which “Danny” keeps a running total of the total taxes his family has paid – income, Social Security,…
Media
Read More: The Running Total Of Our TaxesHealth Care
Wal-Mart can be good for your health
Salon.com article on the growth of retail clinics in providing low-cost health care services – and the opposition from entrenched special interests.
Media
Read More: Wal-Mart can be good for your healthEducation
Drew Carey Video on Education & Teachers’ Unions
ReasonTV video with Drew Carey on union opposition to school reform in Watts Commentary on the video from NTU’s Government Bytes blog…
Media
Read More: Drew Carey Video on Education & Teachers’ UnionsEducation
Curriculum reform “isn’t enough”
Reason’s Lisa Snell lays the smackdown on arguments by Sol Stern in his article “School Choice Isn’t Enough” (Click here for previous post), which labels instructionist reform…
Media
Read More: Curriculum reform “isn’t enough”State Budget
CAGW Names Rep. John Murtha Porker of the Year
Pennsylvania’s own Congresman John Murtha was named Porker of the Year by Citizens Against Government Waste: In fiscal year 2008, he brought home 72 pork projects worth $149.2…
Media
Read More: CAGW Names Rep. John Murtha Porker of the Year