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.”

Blaim Steelers’ Fans for Soggy Field

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 27, 2007

A lot has been made about the condition of the field during last night’s Steelers-Dolphins game. First off let me say that was a great football game, and anyone who…

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A new rathole

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 27, 2007

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on the use of taxpayer money to conduct political polls.

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Turnpike Commission’s version of MiniTru

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 26, 2007

Turnpike Commission Vice-Chair and bond attorney Tim Carson in the Morning Call offers a rebuttal to the Brouillette-Gilroy Commentary. Carson’s editorial is as accurate as an Enron…

Media

Read More: Turnpike Commission’s version of MiniTru

The Tragedy of the Commons

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 21, 2007

John Stossel on the lost lesson of Thanksgiving: When the Pilgrims first settled the Plymouth Colony, they organized their farm economy along communal lines. The goal was to…

Media

Read More: The Tragedy of the Commons

The Most Important Election of Our Time

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 20, 2007

What happens when there is a tie for election? Run off? Coin Flip? Supreme Court case? Duel to the death? Rock Paper Scissors? In the case of the Wormleysburg Assessors…

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A new effort on open-records bill

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 20, 2007

Bill DeWeese is planning to push an amendment to the House open records bill, which would strengthen it, making it like the Senate bill, but applying to the…

Media

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SEC investigation into Brimmeier?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 19, 2007

Here is a letter to SEC regional director Daniel Hawkes from Sen. Jake Corman, and the response from the SEC director. Corman questions whether or not Pennsylvania Turnpike…

Media

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Pa. puts a heavy stake on I-80 tolls

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 19, 2007

Good summary of the I-80 tolling situation and the concerns regarding federal approval – including noting that mass transit would get $150 million less if I-80 is not tolled…

Media

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EBay sellers pushed to get auctioneer licenses

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 19, 2007

In an absurd extension of state power, the Board of Auctioneer Examiners in the State Department is trying to shut down EBay sellers (those selling on behalf on others). See…

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State Small Business Climate Ranking

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 19, 2007

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council released its state rankings on Policy Environment for Entrepreneurship. Pennsylvania ranks a middling 24th (1 is best). The rankings incorporate several taxes, government…

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Where do judges come from?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 19, 2007

Paul Jacob on Townhall.com on “merit selection” of judges in Missouri. So, just who makes up the Appellate Judicial Commission? How are they chosen? Good questions. The…

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Colossal Waste of Tax Dollars for Useless Education Study

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 16, 2007

Allegheny Institute Policy Brief on the “costing out study”. To further illustrate the wrongheadedness of the study, consider its recommendation for two Southwestern Pennsylvania school districts that…

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More Resources on Costing Out Studies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 16, 2007

Courtroom Alchemy – Education Next: We reviewed results from professional judgment studies in eight states released from 2001 to 2003. All eight studies were conducted by…

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Leave commenting on PA Politics to me, Sandra Day O’Connor

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 15, 2007

Sandra Day O’Connor disses Russ Diamond in today’s Wall Street Journal, along with calling for appointing judges and government-run campaigns: These three reforms [I’ll discuss below] will help,…

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Read More: Leave commenting on PA Politics to me, Sandra Day O’Connor

Costing Out Study – Quick Numbers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 15, 2007

I haven’t had a chance to look at the “costing out study” yet, which said we need spend $12,067 per-pupil to achieve an “adequate education” but here is the key…

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Read More: Costing Out Study – Quick Numbers