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
Two Thumbs Down for Film Tax Credits
The Tax Foundation released a report on movie production incentives (MPIs), such as film tax tax credits and film grants (full report here). Forty-four states offer some sort…
Media
Read More: Two Thumbs Down for Film Tax CreditsTaxes & Economy
Government Spending Doesn’t Stimulate Economic Growth
Brian Riedl of the Heritage Foundation has a good Backgrounder on why government spending is no economic stimulus, including answering some of the points that neo-Keynesians make. (Click…
Media
Read More: Government Spending Doesn’t Stimulate Economic GrowthState Budget
What is Rendell Cutting in Pennsylvania Budget?
In his mid-year budget address, Governor Rendell outlined a plan to cut spending by $170 million in the Pennsylvania state budget. This week, he identified $161 specific cuts (see…
Media
Read More: What is Rendell Cutting in Pennsylvania Budget?Education
New Head Start Study Shows No Long-Term Effects of Preschool
A study on students in Head Start released yesterday by the US Department of Health and Human Services shows no long-term academic improvement from the program. In fact, the…
Media
Read More: New Head Start Study Shows No Long-Term Effects of PreschoolGovernment Accountability
Onorato’s Economic Plan: Some Good Ideas, Some Bad Ideas
Pennsylvania Governor Candidate Dan Onorato outlined his economic development proposals yesterday. He has some good ideas in there, but a lot of the…
Media
Read More: Onorato’s Economic Plan: Some Good Ideas, Some Bad Ideas
Some Good News for PA Budget on Marcellus Shale Leasing
While Pennsylvania tax revenue collections continue to fall below estimate, some good news came from state land leases for natural gas wells in the…
Media
Read More: Some Good News for PA Budget on Marcellus Shale LeasingGovernment Accountability
Democrat Party Finally Condemns Pay Raise
An interesting response to State Senator Dave Argall’s announcement that he would challenge Congressman Tim Holden is that Democrats are going after Argall’s role in the 2005 Pennsylvania pay…
Media
Read More: Democrat Party Finally Condemns Pay RaisePublic Union Democracy
Pittsburgh Prevailing Wage Proposal Still on Table
The Pittsburgh City Council is once again considering imposing a prevailing wage rule on workers in city-subsidized buildings. (HT to Grassroots PA). In contrast to what the article…
Media
Read More: Pittsburgh Prevailing Wage Proposal Still on TableEducation
PA’s “Race to the Top” Plan Upsets Cyber Schools and PSEA
The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s “Race to the Top” plan – attempting to get about $400 million from federal taxpayers via the “stimulus” – has drawn a number of critics.
Media
Read More: PA’s “Race to the Top” Plan Upsets Cyber Schools and PSEATaxes & Economy
Government Spending on Transportation Not Creating Jobs
The AP has a new story out today on how “stimulus” road spending has had little effect on unemployment. Spend a lot or spend nothing at all, it…
Media
Read More: Government Spending on Transportation Not Creating JobsGovernment Accountability
A Constitional Convention of Crazies?
Political consultant Larry Ceisler penned an op-ed denouncing a Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention. (Hat Tip: GrassrootsPA) While there are legitimate concerns about a Con Con, Ceisler addresses none of those,…
Media
Read More: A Constitional Convention of Crazies?Regulation
Deal on Pennsylvania Table Games Appears Done
After Gov. Rendell threatened to lay off 1,000 state workers if he didn’t sign legislation to establish table games (and the licensing fee and tax) at Pennsylvania casinos by…
Media
Read More: Deal on Pennsylvania Table Games Appears DoneState Budget
The Stimulus and State Budgets
The Wall Street Journal had a recent editorial on the impact of the stimulus on state budgets – noting that while the legislation create a one-time bailout to states,…
Media
Read More: The Stimulus and State BudgetsGovernment Accountability
Book Review: Liberal Fascism
I finally got around to finishing Jonah Goldberg’s 2007 tome, Liberal Fascism, a compelling and important read. Goldberg both attempts to make the case that fascism has always been…
Media
Read More: Book Review: Liberal FascismTaxes & Economy
Climategate Investigator Seeks Whistleblowers at Penn State
An investigator into the “climategate” controversy has emailed all of Penn State professor Michael Mann’s colleagues, highlighting the reward for those who blow the whistle on misuse of federal…
Media
Read More: Climategate Investigator Seeks Whistleblowers at Penn StateGovernment Accountability
Capitol Cafeteria Another Rendell Sweetheart Contract
While some have pointed to the rodent-poo filled cafeteria at the Pennsylvania state capitol as a failure of the free market (as a private firm…
Media
Read More: Capitol Cafeteria Another Rendell Sweetheart ContractHealth Care
Attorneys General Threaten Lawsuit over Federal Health Care Bill
Attorneys General from 13 states, including Pennsylvania’s Tom Corbett, have threatened a lawsuit over pending health care legislation. (HT Tony…
Media
Read More: Attorneys General Threaten Lawsuit over Federal Health Care BillHealth Care
Cynics on Why to Support the Health Care Bill
Quiet Declarations has a good blog post on why to support the Senate health care bill, basically outlining three rationales. One, if you want to pass any bill to…
Media
Read More: Cynics on Why to Support the Health Care BillHealth Care
Challenging the Constitutionality of Health Care Legislation
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett is joining with a number of other state AG‘s (latest count is 10 attorneys general) to challenge the “Nebraska Compromise” in the latest…
Media
Read More: Challenging the Constitutionality of Health Care LegislationRegulation
Private Funding for Historical Sites
The historical site of Washington’s Crossing saw a cut in taxpayer subsidies this year, and some forecast doom and gloom for history. Instead, Lockheed Martin and other private donors…
Media
Read More: Private Funding for Historical SitesGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania Legislative Audit Says Little
A new audit of the Pennsylvania Legislature’s accounts was released earlier this month, and is available via state Rep. Josh Shapiro. The big news on the audit is that…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Legislative Audit Says Little