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
Democracy vs incumbency
John Baer on the power of incubmency in the Philadelphia Daily News (citing Commonwealth Foundation data).
Media
Read More: Democracy vs incumbencyEducation
Property Tax Relief through School Choice
Pennsylvanians deserve property tax reform and relief—not a shift and a sham. But the only way to relieve all homeowners while not burdening other taxpayers is to reduce public school…
Commentary
Read More: Property Tax Relief through School ChoiceTaxes & Economy
Gov. Rendell’s Plan to raise gas prices and subsidize Big Ethanol
Gas prices are high. As previously noted in this blog, part of the reason for high prices is the mandated use of ethanol fuels – forcing refineries to retool.
Media
Read More: Gov. Rendell’s Plan to raise gas prices and subsidize Big EthanolState Budget
Should American troops die for pork?
A look at the $17 billion in Pork Spending added to the President’s request for funding of troops and Hurricane Katrina Relief from the Heritage Foundation.
Media
Read More: Should American troops die for pork?Taxes & Economy
State Quashes Economic Freedom
The Pennsylvania State Department’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs release their list of disciplinary actions yesterday. Among the egregious violations were: auctioning without an auctioneers license, cutting hair…
Media
Read More: State Quashes Economic FreedomGovernment Accountability
A Revolution in 2006?
The 2006 primary election will serve as an important yardstick as to the lingering outrage in the electorate from the legislative pay raise on July 7, 2005 and failure to…
Commentary
Read More: A Revolution in 2006?Education
65% Solution? Reduce School District Size
Analysis of school district spending by size by in the EIA Communique. The finding is that larger districts spend a lower percentage on classroom instruction (and more in adminstrative…
Media
Read More: 65% Solution? Reduce School District SizeEducation
Philly Schools Need Improvement
Jay Greene in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer.
Media
Read More: Philly Schools Need ImprovementTaxes & Economy
How to Soak the Rich (the George Bush Way)
Good piece in the Wall Street Journal on the effects of tax cuts.
Media
Read More: How to Soak the Rich (the George Bush Way)State Budget
Line-Item Veto Draws Sen. Byrd’s Scorn – Yahoo! News
Shockingly, the man responsible for more pork-barrel spending than anyone opposes limiting pork-barrel spending. From Yahoo! News…
Media
Read More: Line-Item Veto Draws Sen. Byrd’s Scorn – Yahoo! NewsEducation
Scholarships as tax relief
Read Matt Brouillette’s commentary in today’s York Dispatch.
Media
Read More: Scholarships as tax reliefTaxes & Economy
Taxing Oil
A “windfall” tax on “big oil” will only reduce the supply of oil and increase the cost of gasoline, writes Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist Colin McKnickle. It is a shame,…
Media
Read More: Taxing OilTaxes & Economy
Why a windfall tax is bad policy
Should the federal government create a new tax on profits only for oil companies, as Governor Rendell suggests? This “windfall tax” esentially ensures a limit on the amount of…
Media
Read More: Why a windfall tax is bad policyTaxes & Economy
Tax Freedom Day in Pennsylvania
Happy Tax Freedom Day, Pennsylvania! If you are looking for a reason to celebrate, you need look no further than Tax Freedom Day.
Commentary
Read More: Tax Freedom Day in PennsylvaniaEducation
New Report on High School Graduation
A new report from the Manhattan Institute, released today, attempts to calculate real (as opposed to reported) high school graduation rates, using a consistent methodology across states. They found…
Media
Read More: New Report on High School GraduationRegulation
Corporate Welfare No Boon for Philadelphia Job Market
Despite receiving large corporate "welfare checks" to spur job growth in manufacturing and technology, the Philadelphia region still lags behind other areas of the Commonwealth in employment. The region has…
Commentary
Read More: Corporate Welfare No Boon for Philadelphia Job MarketGovernment Accountability
Voter fraud in Pennsylvania? Gov. Rendell isn’t worried.
John Fund on Pennsylvania election fraud and oddities in today’s Wall Street Journal…
Media
Read More: Voter fraud in Pennsylvania? Gov. Rendell isn’t worried.Taxes & Economy
New, Better Property Tax Relief Proposal – Media Coverage
Patriot News “Breaking News” coverage of our Property Tax Relief Scholarship proposal. Get our press release, or download our Policy Brief for more details and district-specific property…
Media
Read More: New, Better Property Tax Relief Proposal – Media Coverage
The Property Tax Relief Scholarship Act
To date, the school property tax discussion in Pennsylvania has narrowly focused on the revenue side of the equation, without addressing the spending side of the ledger. This has led…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Property Tax Relief Scholarship ActTaxes & Economy
Governor Rendell: The Era of Big Government is Just Beginning
Two Gems from Governor Rendell in The Scranton Times-Tribune: “Rendell says voters have a clear choice between a candidate who talks of cutting taxes and limiting spending – Swann…
Media
Read More: Governor Rendell: The Era of Big Government is Just BeginningState Budget
Are they really “Fake” Republicans?
OpinionJournal – John Fund on the Trail: “‘The Republican Party is now principally moderate, if not liberal’ on spending, Mr. Specter told reporters after a majority of GOP senators…
Media
Read More: Are they really “Fake” Republicans?