Nathan Benefield

Media Contact
media(at)commonwealthfoundation.org

Request an Interview Headshot

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.”

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…

Media

Read More: Ripping Off Taxpayers, Pennsylvania Style

PHEAA’s solution to bonus furor: pay raises

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2007

PHEAA’s solution to bonus furor: pay raises – from the Post-Gazette. Topics on this pagePennsylvania Higher Education Assistance AgencyPittsburgh Post-Gazette…

Media

Read More: PHEAA’s solution to bonus furor: pay raises

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…

Media

Read More: What Americans Think about Their Schools

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…

Media

Read More: The SCHIP Open

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…

Media

Read More: Do the latest welfare numbers stack up?

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…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Political War Over Planned Tolls on I-80

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…

Media

Read More: Occupational Licensing in the States

Lessons from Massachusetts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 27, 2007

Sally Pipes on the lessons of Massachusetts’ Health Care Reform. Not to be confused with RomneyCare 2.0 (or as Michael Tanner puts it, Romney abandons RomneyCare)…

Media

Read More: Lessons from Massachusetts

The Myth of Pre-K

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 26, 2007

Adam Schaeffer of the Cato Institute tackles the mythical benefits of universal pre-K: In truth, pre-K costs billions of dollars but returns little benefit. Supporters…

Media

Read More: The Myth of Pre-K

The Global Warming Test

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 26, 2007

What do you know about Global Warming? Take the Global Warming Test from the Heartland Institute. Topics on this pageClimate changeThe Heartland Institute…

Media

Read More: The Global Warming Test

Watch Benefield on Cyber School Funding

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2007

I will be on Pennsylvania Newsmakers dicussing cyber school funding. Click here for TV listings this weekend and next week.

Media

Read More: Watch Benefield on Cyber School Funding

Rendell, Orie: Privatize PHEAA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2007

Post Gazette – PHEAA bonuses enrage Rendell: “I haven’t seen a mind-set change to ‘We’re a public agency and we’re going to act like a public…

Media

Read More: Rendell, Orie: Privatize PHEAA

More on PHEAA from the Guv

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2007

Governor calls PHEAA bonuses “outrageous” – Breaking News with The Patriot-News Sens. Jane Orie, R-Allegheny, and John Rafferty, R-Montgomery, reacted to the bonuses by saying they plan to…

Media

Read More: More on PHEAA from the Guv

Feds receive request to toll I-80

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2007

Toll Roads News on the Application of the PA Turnpike Commission for tolling I-80 – featuring a copy of the actual application and some commentary including: The application…

Media

Read More: Feds receive request to toll I-80

Bonus Time At PHEAA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2007

Jan Murphy at the Patriot News on PHEAA’s latest round of bonuses, noting that PHEAA CEO Dick Willey’s bonus is higher than Governor Rendell’s salary.The headline “PHEAA’s…

Media

Read More: Bonus Time At PHEAA

Tobacco companies must pay Pa. growers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 22, 2007

Story from the AP and Intelligencer Journal on a court ruling that tobacco companies must pay tobacco farmers for lost revenue (HT to Grassroots PA). The PA Attorney…

Media

Read More: Tobacco companies must pay Pa. growers

Kids First?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 22, 2007

David Freddoso on SCHIP on National Review Online takes on two key parts of the SCHIP debate. First is the Bush administration’s new rules that states will have to…

Media

Read More: Kids First?

Liberal Views, Black Victims

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 22, 2007

Walter E. Williams on crime in Philadelphia, and what citizens (yes, citizens, not lawmakers) should do about it. Topics on this pagePhiladelphiaWalter E. Williams…

Media

Read More: Liberal Views, Black Victims