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.”

Taxes & Economy

How Dumb is the Jobs Bill?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 23, 2010

So the logic behind Stimulus 3, or the so-called “jobs bill” is that the first stimulus (the Bush stimulus of 2008, predicated largely on tax rebates) worked so well the…

Media

Read More: How Dumb is the Jobs Bill?

Regulation

The Trillion Dollar (and then some) Pension Gap

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 23, 2010

The Pew Report on state pensions, finding a $1 trillion unfunded liability nationally, has already received a great deal of attention, so here are just some brief highlights for…

Media

Read More: The Trillion Dollar (and then some) Pension Gap

Government Accountability

PA Lawmakers Use Per Diems to Buy Houses

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 22, 2010

I have often remarked that the exorbitant costs of Pennsylvania legislators’ per diems (see Tribune Review and ABC 27 stories) – that they receive to pay for food…

Media

Read More: PA Lawmakers Use Per Diems to Buy Houses

Government Accountability

Lower Legislative Pay = Better Government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 22, 2010

A new study of state legislative pay and party competition in the American Political Science Review, finds that, in addition to greater party competition, modest pay for legislators leads…

Media

Read More: Lower Legislative Pay = Better Government

Taxes & Economy

Did the Stimulus Raise Unemployment?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 22, 2010

Alan Reynolds takes a nuanced approach to where stimulus funding went, and why it didn’t “create jobs” or increase GDP, and probably increased unemployment: [T]he GDP report clearly…

Media

Read More: Did the Stimulus Raise Unemployment?

Regulation

Pension Obligation Bonds: Worst Idea Ever

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 21, 2010

Rick Dreyfuss has a new article for the Mackinac Center in Michigan, where lawmakers are floating the idea of Pension Obligation Bonds to help fill their pension gap.  Of…

Media

Read More: Pension Obligation Bonds: Worst Idea Ever

State Budget

Will the PA “Cost Cutting Commission” Cut Costs?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 21, 2010

The Pennsylvania Senate’s new Cost Study Commission met for the first time on Friday, discussing the cost of the state fleet – which currently maintains 16,000 vehicles, half of…

Media

Read More: Will the PA “Cost Cutting Commission” Cut Costs?

Criminal Justice Reform

New PA Task Force on Prison Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 19, 2010

Following testimony that inmates might riot if the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections didn’t a funding increase, the state House Appropriations Committee decided to create a task force to…

Media

Read More: New PA Task Force on Prison Spending

Government Accountability

Where has PA Stimulus Money Gone?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 19, 2010

I’ve gotten a couple requests for information on where Pennsylvania’s stimulus money has gone. The Pennsylvania stimulus site is here. …

Media

Read More: Where has PA Stimulus Money Gone?

State Budget

PA’s Biggest Porkers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 18, 2010

Taxpayers for Common Sense has a new database on FY 2010 earmarks by Congress. As a state, Pennsylvania ranks 6th in value of earmarks, getting $366 million from 457…

Media

Read More: PA’s Biggest Porkers

Taxes & Economy

Some Stimulating Numbers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 18, 2010

On the one year anniversary of the “stimulus”, OpenMarket.org has some numbers on how well the stimulus has worked: * The unemployment rate has increased since the stimulus bill…

Media

Read More: Some Stimulating Numbers

Government Accountability

The True Purpose of Lobbyist Disclosure

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 17, 2010

I have recently learned the true motives behind Pennsylvania’s recent lobbyist disclosure law — as I, and everyone else on staff who registered with the state as a lobbyist has…

Media

Read More: The True Purpose of Lobbyist Disclosure

Government Accountability

Biennial Legislatures

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2010

NCSL has a new podcast discussing biennial legislatures – i.e. states where the General Assembly meets for a limited session every two years.  There have been a handful of…

Media

Read More: Biennial Legislatures

Health Care

Virginia Passes Health Care Freedom Act

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2010

The Virginia House of Representatives passed SB 417, sending it on to Gov. McDonnell, who is expected to sign it.  The legislation would state, in defiance of health…

Media

Read More: Virginia Passes Health Care Freedom Act

Regulation

Tracking the Bailout Money

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2010

Propublica has a good tool tracking all the money the federal government has given out in both the TARP bailout and the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Media

Read More: Tracking the Bailout Money

Regulation

Government Pension Plans Facing Crisis in Many States

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2010

RiShawn Biddle has a good article at American Spectator on how public school pensions and health care benefits are a huge cost burden in many states. New Jersey is…

Media

Read More: Government Pension Plans Facing Crisis in Many States

Government Accountability

The 70s Called, and Wants Its Legislators Back

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2010

State Rep. Frank Oliver announced he will be retiring at the end of his term.  This retirement – along with those of Sen. Bob Mellow, Sen. Barry Stout, and…

Media

Read More: The 70s Called, and Wants Its Legislators Back

Regulation

Agriculture: Pennsylvania’s #1 Industry (in Lobbying)

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2010

The lobbyist group Triad Strategies has a new blog focusing on Pennsylvania policy and politics, which features a recent post by George Wolff that calls for taxpayers to…

Media

Read More: Agriculture: Pennsylvania’s #1 Industry (in Lobbying)

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Turnpike Already Hiring Consultants for I-80 Tolling

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2010

Toll Roads News reports that the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is seeking bids for consultants for the conversion of the highway to a toll road. The four contracts would each…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Already Hiring Consultants for I-80 Tolling

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansions Set to Star Wars

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2010

Here is a video listing the 74 items currently exempt from the Pennsylvania sales tax that Gov. Rendell has proposed taxing – set to the introduction of Star Wars…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansions Set to Star Wars