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.”
Welfare
Attorney General Chases More Welfare Thieves
In another example of those employed in the welfare system (allegedly) getting rich off the poor through fraud, Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly has charged two Delaware County DPW employees, Cynthia Lewis and Ivan…
Media
Read More: Attorney General Chases More Welfare ThievesEducation
Opportunity Scholarships Now Open for Business in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development issued new guidelines regarding the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) program. Businesses can begin applying for tax credits on August 8.
Media
Read More: Opportunity Scholarships Now Open for Business in PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Welfare Anti-Fraud Measures Earn Gold Medal
The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare received an award for its recent efforts to curb waste and fraud. The Council of State Governments gave DPW a 2012 Innovations Award…
Media
Read More: Welfare Anti-Fraud Measures Earn Gold MedalEducation
Unable to Win, Union Bosses Try to Change Election Rules
My younger brother Matt and I often enjoy an intense pickup one-on-one basketball game. Being seven years older, I had the advantage for a long time. As kids, I was…
Media
Read More: Unable to Win, Union Bosses Try to Change Election RulesEducation
Taxpayers Benefit from School Choice
I had a letter to the editor in Friday’s edition of the Philadelphia Daily News on the benefits of the expansion of school choice in Pennsylvania for taxpayers…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers Benefit from School ChoiceRegulation
Moody’s Sounds the Four Alarms
Yesterday, Moody’s Investor Services downgraded Pennsylvania’s bond rating one level. The downgrade implies Pennsylvania bonds are riskier than previously assessed, and it could make it more expensive for the…
Media
Read More: Moody’s Sounds the Four AlarmsGovernment Accountability
Union Privileges Fuel More Money in Politics
Turns out not everything is bigger in Texas. The Lone Star State has twice the population of Pennsylvania, yet when it comes to political spending, Pennsylvania’s labor unions can outgun…
Media
Read More: Union Privileges Fuel More Money in PoliticsHealth Care
ACA Encourages Young & Healthy to Stay Uninsured
An AP article claims the Affordable Care Act will lower the cost of insurance for young adults through a host of government interventions such as new mandates, Medicaid…
Media
Read More: ACA Encourages Young & Healthy to Stay UninsuredEducation
What School Choice Advocates are Saying about Pennsylvania’s “Massive School Choice Victory”
The fiscal year 2012-13 state budget increases the Educational Improvement Tax Credit by $25 million to $100 million and creates a new $50 million tax credit for Opportunity Scholarships—effectively doubling…
Media
Read More: What School Choice Advocates are Saying about Pennsylvania’s “Massive School Choice Victory”Education
School Choice Expansion in Pennsylvania
The fiscal year 2012-13 state budget increases the Educational Improvement Tax Credit by $25 million to $100 million and creates a new $50 million tax credit for Opportunity Scholarships—effectively doubling…
Memo
Read More: School Choice Expansion in PennsylvaniaEducation
Auditor Errs On Charter School Funding
Auditor General Jack Wagner recently release a report criticizing charter school funding. Unfortunately, the report is riddled with errors. One key flaw is the argument that cyber schools get…
Media
Read More: Auditor Errs On Charter School FundingHealth Care
What if Congress Passed the “TV Mandate”?
A friend of mine recently purchased a new flat screen TV, getting a no-interest loan for three years to finance it. He remarked in amazement at this wonder, noting he…
Media
Read More: What if Congress Passed the “TV Mandate”?State Budget
Olympic Hurdles Grab for Gold in Pennsylvania Budget
This July signals the beginning and end of two feats requiring amazing determination, stamina and perseverance—the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics and the on-time passage of the Pennsylvania state…
Commentary
Read More: Olympic Hurdles Grab for Gold in Pennsylvania BudgetEducation
Doubling of Education Spending a Myth?
From 1996-97 to 2010-11, Pennsylvania public school spending increased 93.4 percent, according to state Department of Education data. Yet Rep. James Roebuck says this increase is a…
Media
Read More: Doubling of Education Spending a Myth?Education
How Much Would School Choice Proposal Save?
Reports from under the Capitol dome suggest an expansion of Pennsylvania’s successful Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) will be part…
Media
Read More: How Much Would School Choice Proposal Save?State Budget
State Budget: Fireproofing the Economy or Throwing Gas on the Fire?
Let’s pretend you’ve been financially struggling recently, have spent your savings and pushed off paying some of your bills. But here’s some good news: You have $500 in your checking…
Media
Read More: State Budget: Fireproofing the Economy or Throwing Gas on the Fire?Public Union Democracy
Voters: Limit Government Spending!
In a recent poll, Susquehanna Polling and Research asked 700 registered Pennsylvania voters if they would support limiting the growth of state government spending—legislation similar to the…
Media
Read More: Voters: Limit Government Spending!Education
Who is to Blame for Schools’ Fiscal Woes?
Many advocates of more tax dollars for education blame Gov. Corbett and “cuts” for budgetary woes in Philadelphia and Reading school districts. But these complaints belie the facts. Over last…
Media
Read More: Who is to Blame for Schools’ Fiscal Woes?Regulation
Money to Spend? See Where Your State Tax Dollars Go
Legislative leaders and Gov. Corbett have been negotiating a state budget and, according to the latest reports, are $233 million apart in terms of General Fund spending. Why the…
Media
Read More: Money to Spend? See Where Your State Tax Dollars GoRegulation
Gov Love Lifts Liquor Liberty!
Gov. Tom Corbett announced his support for full liquor store privatization today on Dom Giordano’s radio show. Now it’s the legislature’s turn to develop a plan that will free…
Media
Read More: Gov Love Lifts Liquor Liberty!Regulation
The Unseen Effect of Cracker Credits
Gov. Tom Corbett is reportedly pushing a targeted tax credit for Shell and other companies that locate an ethane processing plant—often called a “cracker” plant—in Pennsylvania. The credit would…
Media
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