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.”

Socialized Medicine is Already Here

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 7, 2007

Michael Cannon writes that the US health care system is already half socialized (and it is the half-socialized aspects, not the half-free parts, which is to blame of most…

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I-80 tolls the best of ideas … or the worst

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 7, 2007

Eric Heyl on Tolling I-80 in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The most significant problem with this proposal — and it is a particularly nagging one — is that…

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Who Pays for Health Insurance?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 6, 2007

Wall Street Journal column discusses how it isn’t just the uninsured who don’t benefit from the current health insurance model (and how a standard deduction for health care would…

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Turnpike Open for Bidding

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 5, 2007

Governor Rendell has issued a request for qualifications for bidders on a Turnpike Lease. I’m not clear how a “request for qualifications” differs from “expression of interest” or an…

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High school graduates not proficient

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 5, 2007

Report from PA Partnerships for Children reveals that 45% of Pennsylvania high school graduates last year did not pass the 11th grade PSSA (on the first or 2nd try).

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Calls for heads to roll at PHEAA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 4, 2007

The Patriot News says PHEAA employees who think they would earn more in the private sector should go earn more in the private sector (by which they mean not…

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Turnpike Commission Loves P3s

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 31, 2007

They Mon-Fayette Expressway, which the Turnpike Commission promised to complete in order to get their sweetheart deal passed, will like be built using a public-private partnership. Chris Buckley has…

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Campaign Finance Reform Gone Haywire

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 30, 2007

This story from the Wall Street Journal (hat tip to Tony Phyrillas) illustrates exactly why campaign donation limits are a meaningless reform. Unfortunately, this is the same type…

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Investigation into Bonus-Gate heats up

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 30, 2007

Post-Gazette reports the the AG’s office has seized records on House Democratic staffers to see if bonuses were tied to campaign work. They are apparently also investigating Mike Veon…

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Public vs. Private: Rebuilding New Orleans

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 30, 2007

USA Today article on the rebuilding in New Orleans – noting that rebuilding efforts funding by private entrepreneurs and philanthropists are done faster and better than anything funded by…

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Ripping Off Taxpayers, Pennsylvania Style

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2007

Richard Vedder of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity weighs in on the PHEAA bonuses. Vedder’s book Going Broke by Degree: Why College Costs Too Much is…

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What Americans Think about Their Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2007

Results of a survey on public education and school choice is featured in the latest Education Next. Some of the findings I found interesting: School vouchers are generally viewed…

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The SCHIP Open

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2007

AEI paper on the many flaws of proposed SCHIP expansion, primarily that it provides “Hidden Incentives for States to Spend Federal Funds,” driving up the costs to taxpayers by…

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Do the latest welfare numbers stack up?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 28, 2007

An AP Story covers the latest news release from the PA Department of Public Welfare claiming lowest number of welfare recipients in nearly 50 years. This rosy analysis…

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Pennsylvania Political War Over Planned Tolls on I-80

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 27, 2007

New York Times on the debate over tolling I-80. The Times points out, as this blog has, that the plan still requires federal approval, the program the Turnpike…

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Occupational Licensing in the States

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 27, 2007

Reason Foundation report on occupational icensing in the 50 states and how these requirements prevent many individuals from entering into their chosen profession. While Pennsylvania ranks somewhat low among…

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