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.”

Congressman wants probe of Fumo link to I-80 toll bid

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 12, 2007

Congressman Peterson has asked the Inspector General at US DOT to look into the Sen. Fumo-Turnpike Commission connection, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Apparently he thinks that when an indicted…

Media

Read More: Congressman wants probe of Fumo link to I-80 toll bid

A Health-Insurance Solution

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 12, 2007

Merrill Matthews in the Wall Street Journal on John Shadegg’s Congressional proposal to allow individuals to purchase health insurance from any state. He uses the example of New Jersey…

Media

Read More: A Health-Insurance Solution

Legislators Seek ‘Accountability’ For Cyber Charters

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 11, 2007

Article in today’s Evening Bulletin on the battle over cyber schools. Karen Beyer claims that “school choice proponents have paid lobbyists a sizeable amount to argue against HB 446:…

Media

Read More: Legislators Seek ‘Accountability’ For Cyber Charters

More I-80 Tolling Opposition

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 11, 2007

Another letter from state lawmakers to US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters on I-80 tolling. This one from the “I-80 House Coalition” – twelve Republican House members with I-80 running…

Media

Read More: More I-80 Tolling Opposition

Supreme Court Fight Club

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 11, 2007

The state Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a grand jury could continue investigate Louis DeNaples, owner of Mount Airy Casino. Of course, John Baer broke this story over…

Media

Read More: Supreme Court Fight Club

Calendar Update

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 11, 2007

Our first batch of Capitol Calendars for Property Tax Relief are now for sale on eBay.(Click here for details). The latest Democracy Rising newsletter features a…

Media

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Uninsured will grow under RendellCare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 10, 2007

Pop quiz: The Rendell administration has estimated that 800,000 Pennsylvania adults are currently uninsured. If Governor Rendell’s “Cover All Pennsylvanians” were implemented as designed – costing up to $1.4 billion…

Media

Read More: Uninsured will grow under RendellCare

The (Tax) War Between the States

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 10, 2007

Art Laffer and Steven Moore in today’s Wall Street Journal look at how tax competitiveness between states (i.e. lower taxes) results in greater population and economic growth: Of…

Media

Read More: The (Tax) War Between the States

Calendars for Property Tax Relief

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 10, 2007

ave your Capitol Calendars! You know those calendars you get from state legislators, which come with “Compliments of [Your Legislator]”, though they were paid with…

Media

Read More: Calendars for Property Tax Relief

Arthur Laffer on taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 9, 2007

Interesting conversation with Arthur Laffer on the effect of tax cuts in The Curious Capitalist blog. Also check out Laffer’s response to “Crackpot Economics”…

Media

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A Zero-Sum Wealth Quiz

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 7, 2007

Coyote Blog takes on the zero-sum game myth of wealth and the economy, with a simple comparison of the rich of 100 years ago and the middle class of…

Media

Read More: A Zero-Sum Wealth Quiz

All’s good, according to Bill DeWeese

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 7, 2007

Pennsyltucky Politics gets a positive prognosis from Bill DeWeese (along with some choice words about Patriot News reporter Charlie Thompson, “slithering around in his usual unkempt reptilian fashion.”) DeWeese…

Media

Read More: All’s good, according to Bill DeWeese

Sam Smith joins I-80 Toll Opposition

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 6, 2007

House Minority Leader Sam Smith has joined in the calls for the US Dept. of Transportation to reject I-80 tolls. Get his news release and letter here.

Media

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Anti I-80 Tolling Blogs and Websites

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 6, 2007

Here are a couple of new websites and blogs focusing solely on the tolling of I-80 and Act 44. The I-80 Toll Disaster Blog (including an interesting post titled…

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Read More: Anti I-80 Tolling Blogs and Websites

Pennsylvania gets an “F” for worker Freedom

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 6, 2007

A report card from the Alliance for Worker Freedom gives Pennsylvania an “F” for meeting none of the ten measures of worker freedom. As with all states…

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Read More: Pennsylvania gets an “F” for worker Freedom

What do “highly-paid lobbyists” want?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 5, 2007

I had to share this email exchange between Simon Campbell of StopTeacherStrikes and Rep. Karen Beyer, prime sponsor of HB 446 (which, in the name of “accountability” includes…

Media

Read More: What do “highly-paid lobbyists” want?

DePasquale to take on school spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 5, 2007

One lawmaker who seemingly did read our Edifice Complex report is Eugene DePasquale, who is going to propose legislation to “to rein in spending on school construction”. DePasquale…

Media

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Response to Cyber School News Release

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 5, 2007

Following our call for rejection of unequal limits on cyber schools (which passed the House Education Committee today), I had an interesting email exchange with a public school employee.

Media

Read More: Response to Cyber School News Release