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
Cut (half) the Waste!
Williamsport Sun-Gazette editorial on the Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006.
Media
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The More You Know … The More You Wish You Didn’t
How does a $56,000 salary sound? Not bad? What if that salary was for working on a political campaign? Still better? Now imagine that salary was for your 2nd job,…
Media
Read More: The More You Know … The More You Wish You Didn’tRegulation
Lawmaker Pensions too generous
Coverage of lawmaker pensions (and our Pension Study) in The York Daily Record.
Media
Read More: Lawmaker Pensions too generousTaxes & Economy
Tax Dollars Spent on PR
The Patriot News reports on how your tax dollars are working hard to fund the public relations campaigns of legislative leaders – namely House Speaker Perzel spending $5,000/month on…
Media
Read More: Tax Dollars Spent on PRRegulation
Nice Pensions for Lawmakers
Coverage of lawmakers’ pensions in the Chambersburg Public Opinion and Lebanon Daily News.
Media
Read More: Nice Pensions for LawmakersState Budget
When Fish is Really Pork
A press release from the PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) attempts to justify the Fish Fund as a core function of government. However, we maintain our assertion…
Media
Read More: When Fish is Really PorkPublic Union Democracy
Unions and Politics
A couple of very good reads on teacher unions and education in the Summer 2006 Education Next. In Strike Phobia, Frederick Hess and Marty West look at the…
Media
Read More: Unions and PoliticsGovernment Accountability
Reform Needed in PA
Mike Folmer on the primary and the need for reform in Pennsylvania in today’s Wall Street Journal.
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Read More: Reform Needed in PA
Piglet Book Coverage
Coverage of the Piglet Book in the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice, the Scranton Times-Tribune, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette…
Media
Read More: Piglet Book CoverageState Budget
Piglet Book Coverage
Coverage of the Pennsylvania Piglet Book in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Download the full Piglet Book here.
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Read More: Piglet Book CoverageState Budget
Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006
The Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006 is the joint effort of the Commonwealth Foundation and Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) to make the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania aware of…
Report
Read More: Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006Taxes & Economy
Minimum Wages Politics vs. Economics
The push for a minimum wage increase is going on in North Carolina as well as here in PA. A piece in the Raleigh News Observer looks at the…
Media
Read More: Minimum Wages Politics vs. EconomicsRegulation
Govenment benefits for retirees grow into ‘monster’
An article in today’s USA TODAY points out that future unfunded liabilities for Medicare, Social Security, and govenment employees pensions and retirement benefits have grown to $57.8 trillion. To…
Media
Read More: Govenment benefits for retirees grow into ‘monster’State Budget
Return the Windfall Profits
There is a massive organization imposing a financial burden on the Pennsylvania economy. It is consuming an ever larger portion of the average person’s income. The costs for what it…
Commentary
Read More: Return the Windfall ProfitsTaxes & Economy
Government made bumper stickers
The Pennsylvania Office of Tourism (part of the Department of Community and Economic Development) have started voting for a PA Bumper Sticker. Not only is developing an “official state…
Media
Read More: Government made bumper stickersTaxes & Economy
Building excise fees will not mean property-tax relief
Read Grant Gulibon’s commentary in the latest News Item.
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Read More: Building excise fees will not mean property-tax reliefRegulation
Perzel takes up state pension issue
House Speaker Perzel names a panel on state pension and retiree medical benefits to study the issues identified in the Commonwealth Foundation’s Pension Study. Perzel even suggests setting…
Media
Read More: Perzel takes up state pension issueTaxes & Economy
PUC: Free market is OK
As reported in the Central Penn Business Journal, the Public Utility Commission will not stop a new taxicab company from competing with existing companies. It always heartwarming when a…
Media
Read More: PUC: Free market is OK
Eye of the Beholder
Tongue-in-cheek piece comparing California to Iraq (and media coverage of each) from The American Enterprise.
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Read More: Eye of the BeholderTaxes & Economy
Tax no fix for rising gas prices
Read Matthew Brouillette’s commentary in Friday’s Pittsburgh Business Times.
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Read More: Tax no fix for rising gas pricesTaxes & Economy
For Now, Gasoline Is Our Only Cheap Fuel
Cato Commentary by Jerry Taylor: “Mandating a switch given current technology would increase, not decrease, pump prices.”…
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Read More: For Now, Gasoline Is Our Only Cheap Fuel