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.”
State Budget
How States are Solving the Tax and Spending Problem
An overview of the provisions of various tax and spending limit initiatives on the ballot in other states, from the National Taxpayers Union.
Media
Read More: How States are Solving the Tax and Spending ProblemTaxes & Economy
The Invisible Hand at Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart, the epitome of greed and all that is evil in the world, is doing what government and Medicare part D cannot – make prescription drugs more affordable. Read the…
Media
Read More: The Invisible Hand at Wal-MartHealth Care
Why Are Health Costs Rising?
Brief analysis of the rising costs of health care from NCPA.
Media
Read More: Why Are Health Costs Rising?Public Union Democracy
New Legislation to End Teacher Strikes
Legislation introduced by Rep. Will Gabig would ban teacher strikes similar to laws in Michigan and New York. This legislation is supported by our friends at StopTeacherStrikes, Inc.
Media
Read More: New Legislation to End Teacher StrikesRegulation
The worst bet you can make
MSN Money article comparing state lotteries to each other and to other gambling ventures. You’re best bets are “skill games” like poker and blackjack, roulette and slots tend to…
Media
Read More: The worst bet you can makeGovernment Accountability
Lack of evidence to support raise
Scranton Times-Tribune editorial takes on Chief Justice Cappy’s defense of a judicial pay raise.
Media
Read More: Lack of evidence to support raiseGovernment Accountability
Chief Justice calls pay raises vital to strong judiciary : The Morning Call Online
Chief Justice Cappy is back to defending the judicial pay raise, calling it his “moral duty to seek pay raises for state judges” in The Morning Call. Read…
Media
Read More: Chief Justice calls pay raises vital to strong judiciary : The Morning Call OnlineState Budget
Will the GOP learn its lesson on pork?
John Fund in today’s Wall Street Journal.
Media
Read More: Will the GOP learn its lesson on pork?State Budget
Transportation Pork
Here is the listing of the $706 million in federal Transportation Earmarks for PA cited in my testimony today.
Media
Read More: Transportation PorkTaxes & Economy
Tougher emissions rule in PA?
FAQ about the news proposed standards and its effects.Coverage of the standards and the decision making process.
Media
Read More: Tougher emissions rule in PA?
Are Pennsylvania kids too fat?
A report released last from the Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Families addresses our state strategy in taking on childhood obesity. Most of the report lists the ways state…
Media
Read More: Are Pennsylvania kids too fat?Public Union Democracy
What to do About the Transportation Crisis?
The Pennsylvania Transportation and Funding Reform Commission is currently holding hearings on the funding “crisis” in transportation. From 1995-96 to 2005-06, while inflation increased 28%, transportation spending in the state…
Commentary
Read More: What to do About the Transportation Crisis?Government Accountability
Judicial Pay After Court Ruling
Here is what PA judges will make following the court ruling reinstating the judicial pay raise: http://mail.comfdnprod.wpengine.com/judgespay.pdf…
Media
Read More: Judicial Pay After Court RulingPublic Union Democracy
Forced speech atrocity
Dimitri Vassilaros column in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about the Washington state lawsuit on whether unions can use mandatory dues for political activity, without consent of the dues paying member.
Media
Read More: Forced speech atrocityState Budget
“Pork” database passed
Reuters Story on the passage of legislation that would create a new web database of all pork barrel grants. Hopefully transparency is but the first step in reducing wasteful…
Media
Read More: “Pork” database passedGovernment Accountability
Judicial pay raise outrage
WHP CBS21 coverage of the pay raise ruling, featuring video of our very own Matthew Brouillette talking with angry callers.
Media
Read More: Judicial pay raise outrageGovernment Accountability
Summary of Supreme Court Ruling on Pay Raise
The PA Supreme Court Opinion on the pay raise, issued today (view the last two pages for the Conclusion) makes the following decisions: 1) The repeal (Act 72 of…
Media
Read More: Summary of Supreme Court Ruling on Pay RaiseGovernment Accountability
Pay Raise is Back
The Patriot News reports that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reinstated last July’s pay raise, for judges–a ruling which raises the pay of the Supreme Court Justices. The ruling also…
Media
Read More: Pay Raise is BackTaxes & Economy
Wal-Mart and Chicago
Following Chicago Major Daley’s 1st ever veto, the city council is reconsidering the law they passed requiring “Big Box Retailers” to pay a “living wage” and benefits. Investor’s Business…
Media
Read More: Wal-Mart and Chicago
Privatize Amtrak
In the wake of some discussion on the GrassrootsPA comments section on whether we need to keep subsidizing Amtrak with tax dollars, I thought these analyses would be useful…
Media
Read More: Privatize AmtrakState Budget
Earmark Showdown
Wall Street Journal article on a couple of bills expected to come up in Congress this week that would address pork barrel spending. While these bills wouldn’t reduce spending,…
Media
Read More: Earmark Showdown