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.”
Government Accountability
Lame ducks ruffle feathers in 3 statehouses
Stateline.org article on Lame Duck legislatures. Guess which state is the leader in post-election shenanigans.
Media
Read More: Lame ducks ruffle feathers in 3 statehousesTaxes & Economy
Income tax cuts benefit all payers
USA Today article exposes the rhetoric of “tax cuts for the rich.” They note that middle income taxpayers saw a larger percent reduction in their tax burdern, and that…
Media
Read More: Income tax cuts benefit all payersEducation
Is Our Kids Learning?
Following multiple reports on student test scores, much has been made about how well Pennsylvania students are performing. In August, Governor Rendell delighted in the results from the PSSA—the state’s…
Commentary
Read More: Is Our Kids Learning?Health Care
Statement on Health Savings Accounts
John Goodman of NCPA’s US Senate Testimony on Health Savings Accounts and the need for consumer driven health care.: “If health care really were free, people would have an…
Media
Read More: Statement on Health Savings AccountsRegulation
Auditor general’s report on pension funds should be an alarm bell to Pennsylvanians
Allentown Morning Call on the looming crisis in state pension systems.
Media
Read More: Auditor general’s report on pension funds should be an alarm bell to PennsylvaniansEducation
Posh dorms become the norm
AP story on the posh living quarters and lifestyles of today’s college students. As the alma mater is featured (and I must admit, I had quite the bachelor pad…
Media
Read More: Posh dorms become the normTaxes & Economy
Group plans rally to oppose seizure
Upcoming STOMP Rally to feature the Commonwealth Foundation.
Media
Read More: Group plans rally to oppose seizureHealth Care
Opportunities for State Medicaid Reform
New Report on state Medicaid reforms from the NCPA. “At the rate the program is growing, it is on a course to consume the entire budgets of state governments…
Media
Read More: Opportunities for State Medicaid ReformRegulation
Big business loves government
John Stossel column on Townhall.com about the all-too-frequent collusion between big business and big government – from corporate welfare handouts to regulation of competition.
Media
Read More: Big business loves governmentTaxes & Economy
Cramer Parking/HIA Eminent Domain Case
The Patriot News reports that the legal standoff between Cramer Airport Parking may be resolved, if the airport agrees to one of three solutions that would allow them to…
Media
Read More: Cramer Parking/HIA Eminent Domain CaseRegulation
Teacher, state worker pension systems short $11 billion
Morning Call article on the auditor’s report on the looming crisis in state pensions.
Media
Read More: Teacher, state worker pension systems short $11 billionRegulation
PA Pension Plans Underfunded
Pennsylvania’s public pension plans are facing a potential crisis, according to a Report from the State Auditor. According to the Auditor General: “The General Assembly and the governor should…
Media
Read More: PA Pension Plans UnderfundedTaxes & Economy
Townhall.com::Wages of Stagnation
Bruce Bartlett Commentary on economic gains of workers and households: “In short, despite all the talk about the rich getting richer at the expense of the poor, the fact…
Media
Read More: Townhall.com::Wages of StagnationState Budget
Both parties share blame for bloated budget
Read Matthew Brouillette’s commentary in today’s Patriot News.
Media
Read More: Both parties share blame for bloated budgetGovernment Accountability
‘Smart Talk’ on pay raise
Alison Hawkes summary of Chief Justice Cappy’s defense of the judicial pay raise: “He said judges needed a pay hike because salaries were slipping compared to other states, although…
Media
Read More: ‘Smart Talk’ on pay raiseHealth Care
States could be overwhelmed by health care burden
AP Story on how the cost of health care plans for retired state workers will be enormous across the nation, as preliminary numbers (required by new GASB rules) roll…
Media
Read More: States could be overwhelmed by health care burdenTaxes & Economy
The Estimated Impact of the Swann Tax Cuts
Executive Summary Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann has proposed a number of changes to state tax rates. This analysis focuses on four major components of that proposal—namely reductions in the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Estimated Impact of the Swann Tax CutsGovernment Accountability
Pa. courts say judges’ pay will rise with feds
AP Report that court adminstrators say PA judges pay are now tied to federal judges. While this differs from my reading of the court ruling on cost-of-living-adjustments, and…
Media
Read More: Pa. courts say judges’ pay will rise with fedsGovernment Accountability
The Know-Nothing Campaign
Nick Gillespie column on the absurdity of the McCain-Feingold free speech regulations which bans mentioning of candidates in ads within 60 days of an election. We don’t want voters…
Media
Read More: The Know-Nothing CampaignState Budget
Pennsylvania growing a gut, We need fiscal corset
Editorial from the Press Enterprise on the need for fiscal restraint in Pennsylvania.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania growing a gut, We need fiscal corsetTaxes & Economy
Ethanol: Bumper Crop for Agribusiness, Bitter Harvest for Taxpayers
NTU Report on how ethanol subsidies and mandates are driving up the costs for taxpayers on gasoline, taxes, and food.
Media
Read More: Ethanol: Bumper Crop for Agribusiness, Bitter Harvest for Taxpayers