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.”
Taxes & Economy
State of the Union Summaries
I missed the entire State of the Union Addresses, as I went to bed before it started (no, I’m not that old, but I had an early morning drive for…
Media
Read More: State of the Union SummariesEducation
The Growth and Benefits of Cyber Education
The Heritage Foundation has a new background on online education, from a national perspective. They write: As many as 1 million children (roughly 2 percent of the…
Media
Read More: The Growth and Benefits of Cyber EducationRegulation
New Virginia Governor Pushing Liquor Store Privatization
Reason TV has a new video on liquor store privatization in Virginia, which highlights the benefits for consumers, and notes that states that privatize both save money and increase…
Media
Read More: New Virginia Governor Pushing Liquor Store PrivatizationGovernment Accountability
Time for a Part-Time Legislature?
Pennsylvania House Republicans Gordon Denlinger, Tim Krieger, and Bryan Cutler unveiled legislation that would return Pennsylvania to a part-time legislature. The bill, HB 1554, would limit sessions to…
Media
Read More: Time for a Part-Time Legislature?Taxes & Economy
Five Alternatives to Tolling I-80
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) continues its push for federal approval to toll Interstate-80, claiming that without it bridges will collapse, highways will crumble, and dogs and cats will start…
Commentary
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Should the Turnpike Commission Toll I-80?
It’s been 88 days since the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission resubmitted its application to toll Interstate 80 (after being denied twice). We’re told that the Federal Highway Administration will soon be…
Media
Read More: Should the Turnpike Commission Toll I-80?Taxes & Economy
Stimulus: The Sequel
The Center for Freedom and Prosperity has a great new video, analyzing 1)Whether the 2009 stimulus created jobs, and 2) Why politicians are craving another stimulus. My only…
Media
Read More: Stimulus: The SequelRegulation
Pennsylvanians Heavy Laden With State Debt
A recent report from Forbes finds that Pennsylvania faces a serious challenge with state government debt. Pennsylvania ranked 35 among all states in the Forbes debt rating. According to…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Heavy Laden With State DebtGovernment Accountability
More on Corporations and Free Speech
Following the Supreme Court ruling that our First Amendment right to free speech applied to corporations’ speech regarding candidates for federal office – a ruling started when the FEC…
Media
Read More: More on Corporations and Free SpeechTaxes & Economy
“Fewer Jobs Lost” is Not a Positive Trend
The Post-Gazette has a story on Pennsylvania’s economy in which both Mark Price of Keystone Research Center and the reporter both repeat the illogical idea that we are losing…
Media
Read More: “Fewer Jobs Lost” is Not a Positive TrendState Budget
Pennsylvania Unemployment Fund is $2 Billion in the Hole
Propublica.org has a great, and terrifying, tracker of states’ unemployment insurance funds. Pennsylvania fund is in woeful shape, with $125 million balance, and owing $2.05 billion in money borrowed…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Unemployment Fund is $2 Billion in the HoleGovernment Accountability
Free Political Speech and Paycheck Protection
The US Supreme Court today upheld that the First Amendment protects speech around elections from corporations and unions. The case concerns Citizens United, which produced a film Hillary: The Movie,…
Media
Read More: Free Political Speech and Paycheck ProtectionGovernment Accountability
The Perfidy of Per Diems
ABC 27 story covers the tens of thousands of dollars lawmakers receive in per diems (i.e. money ostensibly for food and lodging, though lawmakers need not offer any receipts).
Media
Read More: The Perfidy of Per DiemsTaxes & Economy
Brief History of the Great Depression
Investor’s Business Daily has an excerpt from Thomas Sowell’s new book Intellectuals and Society, which outlines the policies which cause the great depression. For instance, Sowell notes that…
Media
Read More: Brief History of the Great DepressionState Budget
Example of Why There’s No Money to Fix Bridges
As I pointed out in a recent post, much of Pennsylvania’s transportation funding goes not to fix decaying infrastructure, but to beautification and other…
Media
Read More: Example of Why There’s No Money to Fix BridgesPublic Union Democracy
Five Alternatives to Tolling I-80
A recent Pocono Record article calls the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s proposal to toll I-80 “a riddle with no easy answers” (HT GrassrootsPA). However, there are alternatives to that…
Media
Read More: Five Alternatives to Tolling I-80Government Accountability
Book Review: Money, Greed, and God
Jay Richards’ book Money, Greed, and God offers a defense of capitalism from a Christian perspective. Richards goes further, noting that capitalism depends on a virtuous society. A…
Media
Read More: Book Review: Money, Greed, and GodGovernment Accountability
Bonusgate Makes National Headlines
Though it wasn’t one of their top 10 scandals of 2009, Time Magazine has a story today on “bonusgate”, and the subsequent corruption investigation, and its implications on Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Bonusgate Makes National HeadlinesHealth Care
Why Health Care Costs are Skyrocketing
A nifty chart put together by the Mercatus Center helps explain why health care cost continue to skyrocket – a growing role for third-party payers and of government subsidies.
Media
Read More: Why Health Care Costs are SkyrocketingTaxes & Economy
How Government Hinders Job Creation
Economist Mark Hendrickson has a good piece for The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College explaining why federal policies aimed at “creating jobs” or even helping workers…
Media
Read More: How Government Hinders Job Creation
A Third Stimulus Won’t be the Charm
Some members of Congress are pushing a third economic "stimulus" in as many years (pundits often forget the Bush stimulus of 2008). Supporters of yet another round of deficit spending…
Commentary
Read More: A Third Stimulus Won’t be the Charm