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.”

9.8% Spending Increase

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2007

Because of plans to create new state funds and shifting spending from the General Fund to other funds, the Governor’s budget proposal really implies a 9.8% increase in spending from…

Media

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Taxing Teachers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 11, 2007

When Governor Rendell intoduced his proposed “Oil Company Gross Profits Tax”, he bashed Exxon-Mobil and their profits. The Governor apparently forgot that Exxon’s profits are owned by people, including being…

Media

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Record Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 6, 2007

Much has been made about Exxon’s “record profits”, but no media focused on their “record taxes“–Exxon paid three times in taxes what they earned in profits. Why is this…

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Fiscal Revelation

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 6, 2007

Wall Street Journal crunches numbers in the federal budget and national debt.

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State judge pay system worse than legislative bonuses.

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 5, 2007

From Capitolwire.com (subscription): Ditzen also wrote: “For all the controversy surrounding Act 44, I have not heard anyone argue that the salary linkage for state judges to the federal…

Media

Read More: State judge pay system worse than legislative bonuses.

Saying No To Teacher Strikes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 4, 2007

The Evening Bulletin covers efforts to stop teacher strikes in PA, focusing on the efforts of Simon Campbell at Stop Teacher Strikes, Inc.

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The Case Against Smoking Bans

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2007

Thomas A Lambert in Regulation Magazine on the Case Against Smoking Bans in “public places.”…

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Rendell pushes health plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2007

Lancaster Intelligencer Journal article on RendellCare. After quoting my commentary on Rendell’s misdiagnosis of the problem, the article then quotes Rendell saying: “‘It’s important for the Legislature to…

Media

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Rendell’s Energy Plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2007

From Capitolwire.com: By Christopher LilienthalStaff ReporterCapitolwire HARRISBURG (Feb. 1) – Gov. Ed Rendell outlined an energy independence strategy Thursday that calls for the creation of an $850…

Media

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More on Legislative Bonuses

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2007

The Patriot News adds up the total legislative bonuses to $3.6 million over the last 2 years ($1.8 million from the Democratic caucus in 2006). Meanwhile, Bob Jubelirer defends…

Media

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Time for another Rendell tax proposal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 1, 2007

From the bad idea factory in Harrisburg comes another proposal for a tax increase to fund another misguided government program. This time, Governor Rendell proposes increasing electricity taxes by $850…

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Justice on Trial

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 1, 2007

The Commonwealth Foundation is co-sponsoring with Democracy Rising Pennsylvania and several other reform groups a survey of judicial candidates.

Media

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Jubelirer’s ex-chief got $95,000 settlement package

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 1, 2007

More on the bonuses (and severance pay) paid to top legislator staffers from Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. It seems that looking through Jubelirer’s financial reports is like…

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Senate leaders disclosed over $363K in bonuses

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 31, 2007

After last weeks disclosure that several unnamed PA Democratic House staffers were getting taxpayer-paid bonuses for undisclosed activities, the Senate GOP had decided to end their practice of bonuses…

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