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.”
Regulation
Will Philadelphia Drop DROP?
Virtually everyone knows that Deferred Retirement Option Plans (DROP) are costly – at least those who know what it is – but now the City of Philadelphia has some hard…
Media
Read More: Will Philadelphia Drop DROP?Government Accountability
You Can Be Gov. Rendell’s Speechwriter
Want to write Gov. Rendell’s next speech? Just fill out the form below. Write…
Media
Read More: You Can Be Gov. Rendell’s SpeechwriterTaxes & Economy
Fact Check: PA Transportation Spending
Gov. Rendell starts his “Tax You More” bus tour today, heading around Pennsylvania to call for more taxes to fill the “transportation funding crisis”. Here are some facts…
Media
Read More: Fact Check: PA Transportation SpendingEducation
Pay Kindergarten Teachers Like Baseball Players?
The New York Times reports on some research – HT to Greg Mankiw – on the value of kindergarten improvement, and teachers, on earnings later in life. However,…
Media
Read More: Pay Kindergarten Teachers Like Baseball Players?State Budget
What Happens to PA Budget without FMAP Money
Gov. Rendell is supposed to meet with lawmakers today to discuss options if Congress doesn’t approve the $850 million in federal FMAP funds. Pete DeCoursey (subscription) breaks down the…
Media
Read More: What Happens to PA Budget without FMAP MoneyTaxes & Economy
Lancaster Co. Human Relations Commission
Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this issue. My name is Nate Benefield, I am Director of Policy Research with the Commonwealth Foundation in Harrisburg. We are a…
Testimony
Read More: Lancaster Co. Human Relations CommissionState Budget
How to Reduce Welfare Fraud
Following Matt Brouillette’s commentary on whether Tom Corbett (should he win) can balance the budget and keep his ‘no tax’ pledge,…
Media
Read More: How to Reduce Welfare FraudState Budget
What if State Government Hired a Psychic?
The Tribune Review adds on to the continuing Orie sisters saga, that not only did they seek the advice of a clairvoyant, but that clairvoyant asked for a…
Media
Read More: What if State Government Hired a Psychic?Government Accountability
Lawmakers Call for Public Integrity Commission
In the wake of convictions, indictments, and investigations of Pennsylvania lawmakers and staff, several legislators have called for a new Public Integrity Commission. The Commission would replace the current…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Call for Public Integrity CommissionEducation
Do Conservatives Support National Education Standards?
The Fordham Institute, long advocates of national education standards, are celebrating the adoption of the Common Core Curriculum, calling it “national standards conservatives can love”. The basis for this…
Media
Read More: Do Conservatives Support National Education Standards?Regulation
Fact Check: Pennsylvania’s Liquor Store Revenue
Many myths continue about the privatization of Pennsylvania’s state-owned liquor stores. One is that the state government would lose annual revenue from liquor sales. See Wendell Young, speaking on behalf…
Media
Read More: Fact Check: Pennsylvania’s Liquor Store RevenueRegulation
Reviewing the Financial Crisis
Nicole Gelinas has a great piece surveying a number of books on the financial crisis. Contrary to conventional wisdom, many in the finance world foresaw the collapse, some big…
Media
Read More: Reviewing the Financial CrisisRegulation
State Pension System Going Deeper into the Red
Eleanor Chute of the Post-Gazette notes the approval of the pension contribution rates for Pennsylvania school employees (split between school districts and the state). She also notes that the…
Media
Read More: State Pension System Going Deeper into the RedTaxes & Economy
How Much will Your Tax Bill Increase in 2011?
The Tax Foundation has a great new tool to calculate your federal tax burden in 2011 – comparing your tax bill if the 2001 & 2003 tax cuts (“Bush…
Media
Read More: How Much will Your Tax Bill Increase in 2011?Taxes & Economy
The PennFuture Scandal: We’re Not Mudslinging
Jan Murphy of the Patriot-News did a fine job in her Sunday article, giving an evenhanded account of our report on PennFuture’s lobbying, but the…
Media
Read More: The PennFuture Scandal: We’re Not MudslingingGovernment Accountability
I&R: Our Inalienable Right to Reform
It is clear our government will not reform itself. Article I, Section 2 of the Pennsylvania Constitution recognizes the right of the citizens to "alter, reform or abolish their government…
Commentary
Read More: I&R: Our Inalienable Right to ReformState Budget
Check Out State Budget Solutions
State Budget Solutions is a new website put together by a coalition of free-market organizations. They’ve been up for a while with a “soft launch,” but had their “hard…
Media
Read More: Check Out State Budget SolutionsRegulation
Your Liquor Dollars at Work
The Post Gazette highlights the continued efforts of the liquor control board to be a better business. This includes the ridiculous: The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board is…
Media
Read More: Your Liquor Dollars at WorkTaxes & Economy
PennFuture Corrects IRS Returns, Owns Private Energy Conservation Company
Jan Murphy of the Patriot News features a story on PennFuture’s lobbying. The story reveals two facts that did not appear in our exposé. First, despite…
Media
Read More: PennFuture Corrects IRS Returns, Owns Private Energy Conservation CompanyHealth Care
NY Times: Individual Mandate is a Tax & Now Fewer Health Care Options
The New York Times had not one, but two stories over the weekend on things we learned about “what’s in the bill”, that we had to wait until it was…
Media
Read More: NY Times: Individual Mandate is a Tax & Now Fewer Health Care OptionsGovernment Accountability
PA House GOP Unveils Policy Agenda
Earlier this month, the PA House GOP put out a Policy Agenda for Pennsylvania. Not everything gets Commonwealth Foundation Approval – e.g., the “jobs package”, praise for…
Media
Read More: PA House GOP Unveils Policy Agenda