Nathan Benefield
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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.”

State Budget

CAGW Pig Book: $29 BIllion in Pork in 2006

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 6, 2006

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) released their annual Pig Book yesterday, which indentifies $29 billion of pork-spending (defined as requests by members of Congress for special projects) in the…

Media

Read More: CAGW Pig Book: $29 BIllion in Pork in 2006

Education

PHEAA says receipts would reveal secrets

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 5, 2006

PHEAA refuses to disclose what they are spending their money on, the Patriot News reports, citing “trade secrets.” Far be it from me to suggest that taxpayers and…

Media

Read More: PHEAA says receipts would reveal secrets

Government Accountability

TV Coverage of Commonwealth Foundation at PLC

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 31, 2006

If you won’t be able to attend the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference, you will still be able to catch it all live on PCN – Pennsylvania Cable Network, starting…

Media

Read More: TV Coverage of Commonwealth Foundation at PLC

Taxes & Economy

PA Personal Income Growth Still Lagging Behind

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 28, 2006

Release from the BEA this morning on State Personal Income 2005. Pennsylvania ranked 37th in personal income growth in 2005, not as low as past years, but below the…

Media

Read More: PA Personal Income Growth Still Lagging Behind

Taxes & Economy

Wages of Politics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 28, 2006

Wall Street Journal on the minimum wage.

Media

Read More: Wages of Politics

Regulation

War on Wal-Mart coming to PA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 28, 2006

From the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Best quote: “Wal-Mart is trying to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace.” Those heathens, trying to compete against unionized stores.

Media

Read More: War on Wal-Mart coming to PA

Regulation

Pay Raise and Pensions Linked

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 27, 2006

Coverage of the pay raise and pension link from Centre Daily Times, citing Rick Dreyfuss and our pension study.

Media

Read More: Pay Raise and Pensions Linked

Taxes & Economy

Abuse of Eminent Domain

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 23, 2006

Harrisburg Airport continues its quest to use eminent domain to take over a nearby competitor, according to the Patriot News. The Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority (SARAA) is trying…

Media

Read More: Abuse of Eminent Domain

Taxes & Economy

Minimum wage push continues

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 17, 2006

From The Morning Call Online: “Kate Philips, Rendell’s spokeswoman, said the administration is grateful the bill emerged from the committee, but that $6.25 ”barely keeps us competitive” with…

Media

Read More: Minimum wage push continues

State Budget

Easiest Way to Cut Pork

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 10, 2006

Five US Senators, in a letter to President Bush, ask him to cut down on earmarked spending (i.e. pork barrel projects) simply by not spending the money. They claim…

Media

Read More: Easiest Way to Cut Pork

Taxes & Economy

Raising Pennsylvania’s Minimum Wage Will Result in Job Loss

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 9, 2006

News release from Employment Policies Institute on PA minimum wage. Raising Pennsylvania’s Minimum Wage Will Result in Job Loss for Low-SkilledEarned Income Tax Credit a Better Way…

Media

Read More: Raising Pennsylvania’s Minimum Wage Will Result in Job Loss

Education

Cyberschools have districts edgy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 6, 2006

Times-Tribune article on the growth of Pennsylvanias’ Cyberschools. The bottom line: students do better when parents are able to choose which school is best for them.

Media

Read More: Cyberschools have districts edgy

Rendell’s pay not “real money”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 6, 2006

From CapitolWire: Rendell’s pay not “real money”…For those of you who haven’t heard just how much Gov. Ed Rendell travels in upper-bracket circles these days, he was…

Media

Read More: Rendell’s pay not “real money”

Taxes & Economy

State Revenue Boom Paves Way for Tax Cuts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 3, 2006

An analysis by the Cato Institute of tax revenue and rates for all 50 states ranks Pennsylvania as a “state in need of tax cuts.” This is based on…

Media

Read More: State Revenue Boom Paves Way for Tax Cuts

Regulation

Pay no attention to the coming crisis.

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 1, 2006

In an Alfred E Neuman-esque “What, me worry?” Council 13 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees claims there is no future pension problem in Pennsylvania. “…

Media

Read More: Pay no attention to the coming crisis.

State Budget

The Rendell Budget: Would Your Family Spend Money Like This?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 1, 2006

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had a good tax year – that is, in government collection terms. General Fund revenues will exceed expectations this year by a projected $353 million. But…

Commentary

Read More: The Rendell Budget: Would Your Family Spend Money Like This?

State Budget

The Myth of Spending Cuts for the Poor, Tax Cuts for the Rich

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2006

Fascinating analysis by the Heritage Foundation on how the Bush administration – attacked by critics for “cutting spending for the poor while cutting taxes for the rich” – has…

Media

Read More: The Myth of Spending Cuts for the Poor, Tax Cuts for the Rich

Education

How schools lock themselves into raising taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2006

Article on USATODAY.com explores how health care and other benefits promised to public teachers’ unions will cost school districts a fortune over the coming years. Anyone who thinks…

Media

Read More: How schools lock themselves into raising taxes