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.”

Election Day Updates

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 6, 2007

GrassrootsPA is keeping running updates of elections news and reports from the polls, so that we don’t have to. John Micek is live blogging over at Capitol Ideas.

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Read More: Election Day Updates

Justifying Pork

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 6, 2007

Andrew Roth takes on the leading excuses for earmarks by Congress. These same excusses are used to defend WAMs and other corporate welfare in Pennsylvania (see here and…

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Read More: Justifying Pork

Consumer Driven Health Plans: Working as Intended

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 5, 2007

New report from Consumers for Health Care Choices on the effect of Consumer Driven Health Plans: When these programs were being considered, proponents said they would have several…

Media

Read More: Consumer Driven Health Plans: Working as Intended

A chance to end farm subsidies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 5, 2007

Los Angeles Times editorial on the corporate welfare for rich farmers (including those in Manhattan). IDB has an op-ed of its own on the upcoming vote. Also…

Media

Read More: A chance to end farm subsidies

$2 million spent by PHEAA on giveaways

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 5, 2007

Jan Murphy of the Patriot News exposes more PHEAA expenses – including “giveaways” such as golf balls, LL Bean Jackets, and T-Shirts bearing the PHEAA logo, I-Pods and DVD…

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Read More: $2 million spent by PHEAA on giveaways

Convert state pensions to defined contribution

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 4, 2007

Senator Pat Browne has an op-ed in The Morning Call on the need to reform our public pension systems and the legislation he will be sponsoring in the…

Media

Read More: Convert state pensions to defined contribution

Beyond Those Health Care Numbers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 4, 2007

Greg Mankiw in the New York Times on the misuse of health care statistics – life expectancy, “47 million uninsured,” and costs of health care.

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Scarnati submits op-ed by Turnpike Commission

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 2, 2007

Frothing at the mouth, President Pro-Tem Joe Scarnati cites the “evil foreign company” argument as to why he won’t allow consideration of a Turnpike lease (even though several…

Media

Read More: Scarnati submits op-ed by Turnpike Commission

Last Chance to Learn About Judges

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 2, 2007

Here are surveys/info about the judges up for election and retention: Democracy Rising Judicial SurveyPennsylvania Family Institute Voters’ Guide PA League of Women’s Voters Voters’…

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Why we blog

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2007

Nicholas Carr thinks Greg Mankiw should stop blogging. His rationale is the economic concept of “comparative advantage” – that is, Greg Mankiw is a brilliant economist and should…

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For-Profit Philly Schools show math gains

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2007

A new study finds that for-profit school management led to math test score gains in Philadelphia (News Release and AP Story): “The impact of for-profit…

Media

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More on Free Markets v. Socialized Medicine

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2007

In response to the criticisms of cancer survival statistics used in a Giuliani ad, David Grazter has defended his statistic and provides additional data about survival rates…

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Read More: More on Free Markets v. Socialized Medicine

Peterson Calls on Turnpike Commission to Pull False, Toll-Funded Ads

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2007

Congressman Peterson calls on the Turnpike Commission to stop buying ads using toll revenue, that he calls a “misleading, disingenuous toll-paid media campaign, promoting the tolling of Interstate 80”.

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Read More: Peterson Calls on Turnpike Commission to Pull False, Toll-Funded Ads

Another Great Milton Friedman Video

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 31, 2007

In this 30 minute video, Friedman explains why he is a “liberal,” not a “conservative; what is wrong with minimum wage laws (and why they are used to discriminate);…

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Read More: Another Great Milton Friedman Video

Audit: Management of Pa. business grants was lax

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 31, 2007

More criticism of the lack of monitoring, accountability, and compliance with laws in the state’s corporate welfare programs, this time from the Auditor’s office. Click here for the AP…

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Read More: Audit: Management of Pa. business grants was lax

Open Records Bills Updates

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 31, 2007

Jamie Blaine at PassOpenRecords.org on the House and Senate open records bills. UPDATE: Details of the Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition (PaFOIC) and PA Newspaper Association Forum…

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Government Health Insurance Kills

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 31, 2007

Somebody needs to fact check FactCheck, like me. The group FactCheck.org issued a “fact check” on an ad by Rudy Giuliani comparing health care in the UK and…

Media

Read More: Government Health Insurance Kills

Great Milton Friedman Video

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 30, 2007

In 2 minutes, Milton Friedman explains the errors of socialism, the benefits of free markets, and public choice theory, all while making Donahue look silly. HT: The…

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Read More: Great Milton Friedman Video

Pension Resources

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 30, 2007

As you may have heard, Rep Scott Boyd introduced a pension reform bill (News Release) – based on some of our recommendations and research. More information and resources: Rep…

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Which schools are “Dropout Factories”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 30, 2007

ABC 27 Harrisburg, ABC 6 Philadelphia, Carlisle Sentinel, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Philadelphia Daily News and others have all had stories about “Dropout Factories” – i.e. schools…

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Read More: Which schools are “Dropout Factories”?