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.”

Government Accountability

Lame ducks ruffle feathers in 3 statehouses

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2006

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 statehouses

Taxes & Economy

Income tax cuts benefit all payers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2006

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 payers

Education

Is Our Kids Learning?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 2, 2006

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 29, 2006

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 Accounts

Education

Posh dorms become the norm

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2006

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 norm

Health Care

Opportunities for State Medicaid Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 28, 2006

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 Reform

Regulation

Big business loves government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 27, 2006

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 government

Taxes & Economy

Cramer Parking/HIA Eminent Domain Case

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 27, 2006

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 Case

Regulation

PA Pension Plans Underfunded

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 26, 2006

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 Underfunded

Taxes & Economy

Townhall.com::Wages of Stagnation

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 26, 2006

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 Stagnation

Government Accountability

‘Smart Talk’ on pay raise

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2006

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 raise

Health Care

States could be overwhelmed by health care burden

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2006

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 burden

Taxes & Economy

The Estimated Impact of the Swann Tax Cuts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 25, 2006

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 Cuts

Government Accountability

Pa. courts say judges’ pay will rise with feds

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2006

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 feds

Government Accountability

The Know-Nothing Campaign

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 22, 2006

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 Campaign