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.”
Government Accountability
CF Blog Roundup
Here are some recent mention of Commonwealth Foundation in state and national blogs. Michelle Malkin uses our research in a post about “slacker mandates” Pennsylvania Guardian links to…
Media
Read More: CF Blog RoundupTaxes & Economy
Lessons of Scrooge
Tony Phyrillas points to a DotPenn article on “Why Scrooge is a Progressive.” While DotPenn is typically a satire/humor blog, the the lesson of Ebenezer Scrooge is…
Media
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Gerlach Calls for End to Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Jim Gerlach has echoed calls for an end to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. This comes a few days after the…
Media
Read More: Gerlach Calls for End to Pennsylvania Turnpike CommissionTaxes & Economy
Final Numbers: Bush Biggest Spender Since LBJ
Chris Edwards of the Cato Institute updates the numbers on federal spending under George W. Bush with the final spending for FY 2009 in the books. While some of…
Media
Read More: Final Numbers: Bush Biggest Spender Since LBJRegulation
PA Stores to Get Wine Vending Machines that Check ID
The Patriot News has a story that about 100 Pennsylvania stores will get wine kiosks, and the machines will check drivers licenses, give a breathalyzer, and accept payments. The…
Media
Read More: PA Stores to Get Wine Vending Machines that Check IDRegulation
PA Lawmakers Need Table Games to Fund Pork Projects
Mario Cattabiani writes in the the Philadelphia Inquirer about all the pet projects funded in the table games bill. He writes: It parcels out the local share in…
Media
Read More: PA Lawmakers Need Table Games to Fund Pork ProjectsTaxes & Economy
CF Sends Letter to FHWA on I-80 Tolling
Today, Commonwealth Foundation president Matthew Brouillette sent a letter to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Pennsylvania’s members of Congress expressing concerns over the proposed tolling of Interstate 80…
Media
Read More: CF Sends Letter to FHWA on I-80 TollingRegulation
PA Senate Approves $1.7 Billion in New Borrowing
While the debate over table games continues, another piece of legislation passed with little debate was the $1.7 billion in borrowing for the state capital budget. HB…
Media
Read More: PA Senate Approves $1.7 Billion in New BorrowingRegulation
Earmarks in Table Games Bill
I mentioned previously that the legislation authorizing table games at Pennsylvania casinos included a number of earmarks (directing funds to a specific project) and WAMs (creating a pot of money…
Media
Read More: Earmarks in Table Games BillGovernment Accountability
Tweet Pennsylvania: Latest Updates from PA Lawmakers
The Commonwealth Foundation has a new project page, where you can follow all the Pennsylvania state lawmakers on Twitter, even if you don’t have a Twitter account yourself. Check…
Media
Read More: Tweet Pennsylvania: Latest Updates from PA LawmakersState Budget
Pew Study Says Little about Pennsylvania’s Fiscal Health
In his budget mid-year briefing, Gov. Rendell cited, repeatedly, a Pew study on states’ fiscal outlook. While it is true that Pennsylvania is in better shape than states like…
Media
Read More: Pew Study Says Little about Pennsylvania’s Fiscal HealthTaxes & Economy
Podcast: Rich States, Poor States
If you missed last week’s luncheon, you can down the latest podcast, in which Matt Brouillette talks with Jonathan Williams of the American Legislative Exchange Council about their report,…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Rich States, Poor StatesGovernment Accountability
Talking Constitutional Convention
Tim Potts talks about a Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention with Ron Morris on Pittsburgh Business Radio.
Media
Read More: Talking Constitutional ConventionGovernment Accountability
CF Around the Blogs
Here are some of the recent blogs mentioning or citing the Commonwealth Foundation: Students for Liberty comments on our back-and-forth with Gov. Rendell on education spending and performance and…
Media
Read More: CF Around the BlogsGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania Governor Candidates Speak at PASociety
If you didn’t make it to the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association event at PA Society this weekend, Matt Brouillette has a good summary of what the candidates for Pennsylvania governor,…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Governor Candidates Speak at PASocietyTaxes & Economy
We Don’t Need No Stinking Jobs
Don Boudreaux has an outstanding op-ed explaining the futility, and the misnomer, of “creating jobs” Jobs are not scarce. They never have been. They’re all around us. There…
Media
Read More: We Don’t Need No Stinking JobsEducation
Higher Taxes and Tuition Coming for PA College Students
The Tribune Review reports Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is continuing to threaten a tax on tuition, attempting to use a jedi mind trick to persuade universities to cough up…
Media
Read More: Higher Taxes and Tuition Coming for PA College StudentsRegulation
Pennsylvania Pension Managers Note Looming Crisis
The Post-Gazette features an article on the upcoming cost increases to Pennsylvania school districts and the state for pensions in the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS). The article…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Pension Managers Note Looming CrisisEducation
Costing-Out the Price of Education
Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield, Director of Policy Research, Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives to the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee December 8, 2009 Thank you, Sen. Piccola and…
Testimony
Read More: Costing-Out the Price of EducationRegulation
Legislators Wambling with PA Table Games
After reportedly taking “WAMs” out of the state budget, it appears Pennsylvania lawmakers are may create a new pot of funds for WAMs in the table games bill – i.e.
Media
Read More: Legislators Wambling with PA Table GamesState Budget
Lot of Glitches in Stimulus 3.0
The Wall Street Journal has a good discussion of yet another stimulus – correctly identify it as Stimulus III (noting both the $787 billion stimulus from earlier this year,…
Media
Read More: Lot of Glitches in Stimulus 3.0