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
Pennsylvania House Passes Spending Transparency
The Pennsylvania House today passed HB 1880, by a unanimous vote. The bill would create an online, searchable database of all state spending. We are told Gov. Rendell sent…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania House Passes Spending TransparencyEducation
State Report on PA’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit
The Pennsylvania Legislative Budget and Finance Committee put out a preliminary report on the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) a few months ago, but the report has been sitting…
Media
Read More: State Report on PA’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit
An End to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission?
State Representative Mike Vereb will unveil legislation to eliminated the corrupt, patronage ridden Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission at a press conference tomorrow. Capitol Ideas has some notes on the…
Media
Read More: An End to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission?Regulation
SEPTA is Financially Sound?!
In a letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer, SEPTA general manager Joe Casey challenges our commentary in which we called for SEPTA to competitively contract routes…
Media
Read More: SEPTA is Financially Sound?!Education
Penn State Professor Feeling the (Metaphorical) Heat
Following the Commonwealth Foundation’s call for a legislative inquiry into use of tax dollars to stifle, rather than foster, scientific inquiry in the case of Penn State professor Michael…
Media
Read More: Penn State Professor Feeling the (Metaphorical) HeatTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania’s Taxes Driving Residents Out
The Tax Foundation has a new Fiscal Fact on Pennsylvania’s tax system and its impact on inter-state migration. After profiling Pennsylvania’s tax climate (hint: it is…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Taxes Driving Residents OutTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Ranks Middle-of-the-Pack in Small Business Climate
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council released their Small Business Survival Index 2009 on Tuesday. Pennsylvania ranks 27th on the Index (1 being the best state for small businesses). …
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Ranks Middle-of-the-Pack in Small Business ClimateState Budget
Pennsylvania’s Growing Revenue Shortfall
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released November revenue collections yesterday. Once again, the actual General Fund collections were somewhat below projections; $56 million (or 3%) for the month. The…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Growing Revenue ShortfallEducation
Pittsburgh Tuition Tax Podcast
Elizabeth Bryan and I discuss the proposed tuition tax in Pittsburgh in a podcast. Joining us for part of the conversation is Aaron Gross, a student…
Media
Read More: Pittsburgh Tuition Tax PodcastTaxes & Economy
Follow the Money on Climate Change “Research”
The Wall Street Journal today features a important read on what lies behind climate research, in the wake of the email…
Media
Read More: Follow the Money on Climate Change “Research”Education
Penn State to Launch Inquiry in “Climategate”
Penn State University is going to “look into” the emails from and about university professor Michael Mann, which indicate, among other things,…
Media
Read More: Penn State to Launch Inquiry in “Climategate”Education
Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?
With Pittsburgh on the brink of bankruptcy thanks to its continual out-of-control spending, Mayor Ravenstahl and his allies on City Council have hatched a new scheme to collect more money…
Commentary
Read More: Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?Government Accountability
Pennsylvania Spent $4 Million in Taxpayer Funded Lobbying
The Tribune Review gives a strong exposé on why taxpayers continue to lose – Pennsylvania state and local governments spent $4 million to lobby the federal and state government…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Spent $4 Million in Taxpayer Funded LobbyingTaxes & Economy
Congress Working on “[Save Their Own] Jobs” Bill
With jobs losses continuing to mount, Congress is considering a third economic “stimulus” (pundits often ignore the Bush stimulus of 2008) in…
Media
Read More: Congress Working on “[Save Their Own] Jobs” BillState Budget
Pennsylvania Lawmakers to End Calendar Givewaways
ABC 27 reports that both the Pennsylvania House and Senate will not be printing calendars to give away this year (which typically featured a “courtesy of Rep. Name”) sticker.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Lawmakers to End Calendar GivewawaysHealth Care
US Senate’s Turkey of a Health Care Bill
The Association of Physician and Surgeons has a one-page handout on some number and facts about the latest Senate health care bill.
Media
Read More: US Senate’s Turkey of a Health Care BillTaxes & Economy
Jobs “Created or Saved” is Obama’s “Mission Accomplished”
Much mockery has been made of the reported “jobs created or saved” by the stimulus package – from jobs created in Congressional districts that don’t exist to the…
Media
Read More: Jobs “Created or Saved” is Obama’s “Mission Accomplished”Health Care
Health Care Reform: The Constitution, the Bible, and Economics
My prepared remarks to the “Million Med March” in Harrisburg Thank you. Good afternoon. Thanks for everyone here for coming out – I know none of us really want to…
Media
Read More: Health Care Reform: The Constitution, the Bible, and EconomicsPublic Union Democracy
State Tax Trends
ATR has a new report on state tax trends. In addition to a roundup of state tax changes, the new report highlights trends with policy implications. While we pointed…
Media
Read More: State Tax TrendsGovernment Accountability
What Next for “Tea Party” Activists?
Following the recent “Taxpayers March on Harrisburg,” as well as recent health care protests in Washington DC and elsewhere, a grassroots organizer posed the question, “what should we do now?”…
Media
Read More: What Next for “Tea Party” Activists?Health Care
Guide to Harry Reid’s Health Care Bill
Yesterday, US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid put forth a new, 2,074 page health care reform bill. The Senate is expected to vote on it in the next few days.
Media
Read More: Guide to Harry Reid’s Health Care Bill