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.”
Most Pennsylvanians are Right Wing Extremists
If one listens to analysts in the mainstream media, anyone calling for a repeal of the federal health care law, or supporting a state immigration law like Arizona’s is on…
Media
Read More: Most Pennsylvanians are Right Wing ExtremistsTaxes & Economy
Who is Adding Jobs in PA?
The latest BLS report on state jobs is out, and is pretty good news for Pennsylvania, which added 34,000 jobs (seasonally adjusted) in April – 2nd most among the…
Media
Read More: Who is Adding Jobs in PA?Taxes & Economy
Corbett v. Rendell: Who is Right on PA’s Economy?
In his acceptance speech Tuesday night, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett vowed to get Pennsylvania’s economy back on track after years of stagnation and misguide policy decisions. Gov. Rendell…
Media
Read More: Corbett v. Rendell: Who is Right on PA’s Economy?Taxes & Economy
Specter to Blame for Specter’s Demise
We try not to engage too much in political punditry here, but the latest Terry Madonna and Michael Young Politically Uncorrected piece, on the end of Sen. Arlen Specter’s…
Media
Read More: Specter to Blame for Specter’s DemiseGovernment Accountability
Corbett Wins, Subpoenas Twitter for Names of His Critics
As part of the Grand Jury investigation, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett has filed a subpoena against Twitter to reveal the names of two anonymous Twitter accounts (HT…
Media
Read More: Corbett Wins, Subpoenas Twitter for Names of His CriticsRegulation
PA Pension Crisis Video
Here is a great video highlighting the looming crisis in Pennsylvania’s state pension plans (specifically PSERS). Not sure who created this, but it’s worth a watch. For…
Media
Read More: PA Pension Crisis VideoGovernment Accountability
Conklin Would Serve as LG and State Rep
If the results hold, and they remain extremely close, Scott Conklin would be the Democrat nominee for Lieutenant Governor and for reelection to his PA House seat. Conklin recently promised…
Media
Read More: Conklin Would Serve as LG and State RepRegulation
F&M Poll Shows Voters Support Liquor Store Privatization
The latest Franklin & Marshall College poll spends, not surprising, a good deal of time on election-related questions, but has a few related to current policy proposals in Harrisburg. …
Media
Read More: F&M Poll Shows Voters Support Liquor Store PrivatizationTaxes & Economy
The Price of Wind
The Wall Street Journal has a good article about how wind generation drives up electric rates in Massachusettes, and will continue to do so as alternative energy mandates are…
Media
Read More: The Price of WindGovernment Accountability
How Rendell Gets Shills
In each of their “budget updates” (see: this one or this one) the Department of Public Welfare ends with this line “For information on…
Media
Read More: How Rendell Gets ShillsGovernment Accountability
Fact Checking Special Interests’ Attack on Natural Gas
Misinformation spewed continually at Common Cause’s press conference on natural gas campaign contributions (see CF News Release) held today at the Capital. Here are…
Media
Read More: Fact Checking Special Interests’ Attack on Natural GasHealth Care
Obama Concedes CF was Right About Slacker Mandate
I hate to toot my own horn (wink wink), but a few months ago, I wrote that a “slacker mandate” included in the federal health care bill would fail…
Media
Read More: Obama Concedes CF was Right About Slacker MandateEducation
PA School Districts Have $2.5 Billion in Reserves
PA Independent highlights the $2.5 billion school districts have in reserve accounts – $1.8 billion in “undesignated reserves.” To put that it lay terms – it’s a lot of…
Media
Read More: PA School Districts Have $2.5 Billion in ReservesTaxes & Economy
Talking Transportation Funding
PA Independent’s Eric Boehm talks with State Rep. Rick Geist about Pennsylvania transportation funding in their latest podcast. For more info on transportation funding, check out our…
Media
Read More: Talking Transportation FundingGovernment Accountability
CF In the Blogs
Here’s who’s blogging about the Commonwealth Foundation in the past week: Page 13 News, Capitol Ideas, GrassrootsPA, and Capitol Punmanship all make…
Media
Read More: CF In the BlogsTaxes & Economy
An Arizona-like Immigration Law for PA?
Following Arizona’s recent enactment of a law intended to enforce federal illegal immigration laws, Pennsylvania State Representative Daryl Metcalfe has introduced similar legislation. The law would force employers…
Media
Read More: An Arizona-like Immigration Law for PA?Public Union Democracy
State & Local Fiscal Reforms
Chris Edwards of the Cato Institute recently presented a paper to the Federal Reserve of St. Louis on state and local government fiscal reforms. Edward’s four main themes were:…
Media
Read More: State & Local Fiscal ReformsState Budget
Help Stop a Tax Increase in Pennsylvania
Citizens Against Government Waste has a new action alert about proposed tax hikes in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania already has the highest Corporate Net Income Tax rate in the world,…
Media
Read More: Help Stop a Tax Increase in PennsylvaniaHealth Care
PA Senate Passes High Risk Pool Legislation
The Pennsylvania Senate on Monday passed Sen. Mike Folmer’s high risk pool legislation. The bill, SB 507, would create a pool for insurance companies to provide coverage to…
Media
Read More: PA Senate Passes High Risk Pool LegislationRegulation
Taxing Wind?
Here is one tax proposal I am stunned Gov. Rendell has yet to copy – Wyoming Governor Freudenthal has proposed a tax on wind power. Of course, it would…
Media
Read More: Taxing Wind?Education
Celebrating School Choice
Yesterday the REACH Alliance held the 9th annual birthday party for Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit – see story here – in which hundreds of students and parents showed…
Media
Read More: Celebrating School Choice