Nathan Benefield

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.”

Health Care

“Explaining” ObamaCare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2010

Merrill Matthews has a piece up on Forbes.com on why ObamaCare needs explaining…to those who voted for it. The report also says, “It is critical to reassure seniors…

Media

Read More: “Explaining” ObamaCare

Taxes & Economy

The A-Team View of Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2010

As a kid growing up, I used to love watching the A-Team every week. Each week the A-Team would find someone in trouble, usually due to a violent gang of…

Media

Read More: The A-Team View of Taxes

Regulation

Philadelphia’s Blogger Tax

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2010

In case you missed it, the city of Philadelphia is demanding local bloggers pay a $300 business privilege license, as reported by the Philadelphia City Paper, despite not making…

Media

Read More: Philadelphia’s Blogger Tax

Taxes & Economy

How to Write Leading Poll Questions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 20, 2010

Gov. Rendell continues to push for higher taxes and fees for transportation, this time by commissioning a poll — paid for with campaign funds (which are legally only to be…

Media

Read More: How to Write Leading Poll Questions

Taxes & Economy

Propaganda Without Logic

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 20, 2010

I previously highlighted a state-run newsletter on Marcellus Shale, which basically represents taxpayer-funded lobbying. But the latest Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Examiner would really blow Mr. Spock’s mind. The…

Media

Read More: Propaganda Without Logic

Public Union Democracy

How Could this Not Increase Costs?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 19, 2010

The Tribune Review writes today about a project labor agreement (PLA) that Allegheny County Chief Executive (and Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate) Dan Onorato is taking some flak for. Amazingly, a…

Media

Read More: How Could this Not Increase Costs?

State Budget

“Across the Board” Budget Cuts are Lazy Policy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 18, 2010

Gov. Rendell announced that to balance the Pennsylvania state budget — after getting $250 million less from Congress than predicted — he would be ordering cuts of 1.9% “across-the-board,”…

Media

Read More: “Across the Board” Budget Cuts are Lazy Policy

Taxes & Economy

Pittsburgh’s Proposed Petroleum Prohibition

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 18, 2010

The Post-Gazette features an article on a proposed ban on natural gas drilling in the city of Pittsburgh: Ben Price, who helped draft the bill as projects director…

Media

Read More: Pittsburgh’s Proposed Petroleum Prohibition

Taxes & Economy

Fact Check: DEP Funding

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 16, 2010

A Capitolwire article (subscription) on DEP funding highlights an argument between a former and current Department of Environmental Protection secretaries. Former DEP Secretary David Hess says the Department is…

Media

Read More: Fact Check: DEP Funding

Regulation

Has Corporate Welfare Ever Failed?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 13, 2010

A reader asks us if we know of any examples of corporate welfare where it has failed – not just on the Macro level, giving grants to select corporations while…

Media

Read More: Has Corporate Welfare Ever Failed?

Taxes & Economy

But I Thought All the Tax Cuts were “For the Rich” …

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 12, 2010

The Club for Growth highlights a Washington Post article on the expiration of the “Bush tax cuts” in 2011 (or, depending on your word choice, the “currently-scheduled tax…

Media

Read More: But I Thought All the Tax Cuts were “For the Rich” …

Education

Onorato Endorses School Choice Proposal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 12, 2010

On Tuesday, we released a commentary noting that both candidates for governor in Pennsylvania – Tom Corbett (R) and Dan Onorato (D) – were advocates…

Media

Read More: Onorato Endorses School Choice Proposal

State Budget

Rendell and the Missing $30 Million

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 12, 2010

Yesterday, Gov. Rendell told lawmakers that after Congress passed legislation to increase federal aid to states for Medicaid (FMAP) and to school districts – and also cut funding…

Media

Read More: Rendell and the Missing $30 Million

Government Accountability

More Taxpayer Funded Propaganda

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 11, 2010

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has an email newsletter on Marcellus Shale (see PA Indy story). I, of course, signed up to see how my tax dollars were…

Media

Read More: More Taxpayer Funded Propaganda

Health Care

States Saying No to Individual Mandate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 11, 2010

Merrill Matthews has a good article up on Forbes about what states are doing to fight the individual health insurance mandate in the new law. He touches both on…

Media

Read More: States Saying No to Individual Mandate

Regulation

Silliest Defense of Government Pension Plans Yet

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 10, 2010

A letter in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader attacks the Commonwealth Foundation for supporting moving state government and school districts employees to a defined-contribution retirement plan, like a 401(k).  The…

Media

Read More: Silliest Defense of Government Pension Plans Yet

Education

AP Distorts Pennsylvania Education Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 9, 2010

In an article about potential cuts to state appropriations to school districts – which represent cuts to the approved budget, not to last year’s spending, and would be more…

Media

Read More: AP Distorts Pennsylvania Education Spending

State Budget

Which Taxpayer-Funded Video Studio Tells More Lies?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 9, 2010

Yesterday, Bob Caton, spokesman for the Pennsylvania House Democrats, and Steve Miskin, spokesman for the House Republican, engaged in a Twitter argument over which caucus’ TV shows were more…

Media

Read More: Which Taxpayer-Funded Video Studio Tells More Lies?

Taxes & Economy

Quote for the Day on Stimulus Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 6, 2010

Yesterday, I tweeted Dan Mitchell’s blog post, which in turn cited Richard Rahn’s article on the evidence of “stimulus spending” vs. limited government on growing the economy. Mitchell…

Media

Read More: Quote for the Day on Stimulus Spending

Reforming the Highway Trust Fund

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 5, 2010

As Gov. Rendell continues to tour Pennsylvania asking for more money for transportation, perhaps he should ask Congress to reform the federal Highway Trust Fund to ensure our gas tax…

Media

Read More: Reforming the Highway Trust Fund

Education

Rendell’s Made-Up Government Workers Layoffs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 5, 2010

Here is a letter to the editor I recently submitted on Gov. Rendell’s threats of layoffs if Congress doesn’t give him FMAP Money: Gov. Rendell has been busy lobbying…

Media

Read More: Rendell’s Made-Up Government Workers Layoffs