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.”

Regulation

Will Philadelphia Drop DROP?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 4, 2010

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?

Taxes & Economy

Fact Check: PA Transportation Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 3, 2010

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 Spending

Education

Pay Kindergarten Teachers Like Baseball Players?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 2, 2010

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 2, 2010

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 Money

Taxes & Economy

Lancaster Co. Human Relations Commission

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 29, 2010

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 Commission

State Budget

How to Reduce Welfare Fraud

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 28, 2010

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 Fraud

State Budget

What if State Government Hired a Psychic?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 28, 2010

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 27, 2010

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 Commission

Education

Do Conservatives Support National Education Standards?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 26, 2010

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 26, 2010

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 Revenue

Regulation

Reviewing the Financial Crisis

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 25, 2010

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 Crisis

Regulation

State Pension System Going Deeper into the Red

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 25, 2010

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 Red

Taxes & Economy

How Much will Your Tax Bill Increase in 2011?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 23, 2010

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 22, 2010

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 Mudslinging

Government Accountability

I&R: Our Inalienable Right to Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 22, 2010

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 Reform

State Budget

Check Out State Budget Solutions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 22, 2010

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 Solutions

Regulation

Your Liquor Dollars at Work

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 20, 2010

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 Work

Government Accountability

PA House GOP Unveils Policy Agenda

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 19, 2010

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