Nathan Benefield
Chief Policy Officer
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.”
MO’s Free-Market Health Care Reform
The state of Missouri has become to the first to enact a number of free-market reforms in health care – many of which are needed in Pennsylvania. This legislation:…
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Open-Records Bill Strengthened
Sen. Pileggi has announced that he will amend his open records bills (SB1) to change the presumption – i.e. all government records will be considered public information unless specifically exempted…
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Bill targets teacher strikes
Rep. Todd Rock will be introducing a bill that will ban teacher strikes and fine teachers for each day they strike illegally. This legistlation is supported by StopTeacherStrikes.org.
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Public School Students Benefit from Private Managers
The Philadelphia School Reform Commission soon will be voting on a budget for the school district. Facing a projected budget deficit, the Commission is looking for ways to reduce costs,…
Commentary
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Rendell as Aragorn
Philadelphia Daily News compares Rendell to Aragorn (of the Lord of the Rings), in his speech to the SEPTA board: A day may come when the courage…
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Are raising prices a crime?
Wall Street Journal on the absurdity of legislation on “price gouging”. Not only have previous investigations over the pase few decades turned up few cases of price gouging, but…
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Make Your Own ‘Star Wars’
The greatest instance of using technology to give power to the masses since Guttenberg invented the printing press, George Lucas announced that clips from all the Star Wars movies…
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“We’re Not the Commonwealth Foundation”
A report from the union-backed, socialist leaning (see note) Pennsylvania Budget & Policy Center calls for enacting the Governor’s Proposed Oil Profits Tax, saying it is a good tax…
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Jesus would back my plan, Rendell says
Ed Rendell cites the Holy Bible to support his government-run health care plan, reported in the Patriot News. He is referring to Matthew 22: 37-39 – Jesus replied:…
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Cato Report on Federal Aid to State
New report from Cato traces the growth of federal aid programs to state. That seems to contradict Governor Rendell’s statements on the budget about how we need higher…
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The Poor Get Richer
Wall Street Journal on the growth in earnings and income of low-income families with children from 1991-2005. The CBO report identifies a few reasons for this, including: job…
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Perzel Turned Away From Budget Meeting
Capitolwire story on John Perzel’s quest to be included in the budget negotiations, see summary on GrassrootsPA.com. Three things about are troubling: 1) That John Perzel is trying to…
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Cost control is true tax reform
A very strong Press Enterprise editorial on real school tax reform – i.e. controlling costs: Enact a Taxpayer Protection Act that would limit increases in state spending to…
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More of the same from Brookings
A new report from the Brookings Institution Restoring Prosperity: The State Role in Revitalizing America’s Older Industrial Cities repeats many of the same recommendations from multiple earlier reports (including…
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Who Killed Health Care?
American Spectator review of Regina Herzlinger’s book, Who Killed Health Care?: America’s $2 Trillion Medical Problem — and the Consumer-Driven Cure. Herzlinger concludes her book by outlining a…
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Response to Congressional Bogeymen on Turnpike
Reason Foundation responds to a letter from two Congressmen advising states against toll road leases and promising to “”work to undo” any contract.
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PSBA Property Tax Reform Blueprint
The PSBA unveiled its Blueprint for Comprehensive Local Tax Reform, which has some good ideas, some misguided notions, and some bad ideas. The Good:1. Create a state funding…
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Turnpike Lease best option financially
Morgan Stanley’s preliminary report indicates that a private lease – depending on the conditions of the agreement – would fetch Pennsylvania a greater sum of money for transportation needs…
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Medicaid Reform in Texas
NCPA analysis of the Medicaid reform proposal in Texas – mostly good ideas, but lacking some key components of free-market reform.
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Term Limits Op-Ed
Rep. Daylin Leach with an editorial on why term limits are a bad idea in the Patriot News. Leach resorts to the standard three part argument – term limits…
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Is Health Spending Out of Control?
NCPA Analysis of government health spending. Their conclusion is that health care expenditures have risen so dramatically because they are on auto-pilot – i.e. lawmakers don’t need to pass…
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