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.”

Government Accountability

What Next for “Tea Party” Activists?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 20, 2009

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 19, 2009

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

Taxes & Economy

Has George W. Bush Seen the Light?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 18, 2009

Ever since former president George W. Bush unveiled plans for the new presidential center in his name which would focus on fiscal restraint, he has faced fair amount of…

Media

Read More: Has George W. Bush Seen the Light?

Government Accountability

Will State Lawmakers Take a Pay Cut?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 18, 2009

As many readers will be aware, Pennsylvania lawmakers, judges, and executive branch officials receive an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), using the CPI for Philadelphia as the measure for inflation. What…

Media

Read More: Will State Lawmakers Take a Pay Cut?

Taxes & Economy

Increased Unemployment Benefits = Increased Unemployment

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 17, 2009

Alan Reynolds outlines a very basic economic concept: longer limits (and increased benefits) for taxpayer-funded unemployment compensation – as was mandated in the federal stimulus, and repeated by Congress…

Media

Read More: Increased Unemployment Benefits = Increased Unemployment

Public Union Democracy

New Video: UPS vs. FedEx & Unions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 16, 2009

Reason TV has a new video explaining the intense lobbying between UPS and FedEx, in which UPS is calling for FedEx to be covered under the National Labor Relations…

Media

Read More: New Video: UPS vs. FedEx & Unions

Health Care

Congressional Candidates, Pay Attention on Health Care Debate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 16, 2009

WFMZ features a story on a health care protest outside Congressman Charlie Dent’s office, featuring Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan, who is also challenging Dent (HT Grassroots PA). Callahan…

Media

Read More: Congressional Candidates, Pay Attention on Health Care Debate

CF in the Blogs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2009

Here are some recent CF mentions in the blogosphere PointOfLaw.com and National Review Online – feature a CF preview of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court election Seen Through…

Media

Read More: CF in the Blogs

Government Accountability

Majority of Union Members are now Government Employees

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2009

The Heritage Foundation points out an interesting fact – 51% of union members are government workers, according to the most recent data, an all-time high. And I assumed General…

Media

Read More: Majority of Union Members are now Government Employees

Government Accountability

Best and Worst Bonusgate Quotes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2009

Following the indictment of 10 State House Republicans (a current lawmaker and a former lawmaker and 8 staff), the Pennsylvania Capitol has been abuzz (click here for a…

Media

Read More: Best and Worst Bonusgate Quotes

Taxes & Economy

The Economic Ignorance of “Fewer Jobs Lost”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2009

Many pundits, members of the media, and elected officials (or their spokesman), cite employment data showing “fewer jobs lost” in October (or in the case of the state, September)…

Media

Read More: The Economic Ignorance of “Fewer Jobs Lost”

Taxes & Economy

Philadelphia to Count Illegal Immigrants to Get More Taxpayer Funds

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 11, 2009

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has issued an executive order to stop city officials from asking immigration status for the express purpose of boosting the city’s population in the Census,…

Media

Read More: Philadelphia to Count Illegal Immigrants to Get More Taxpayer Funds

Government Accountability

Full Time Legislator, Part Time County Councilman?!?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 11, 2009

Capitolwire (subscription) is reporting that State Representative Mario Civera (R- Delaware), who was recently elected to the Delaware County Council, is now rethinking resigning, and planning both to stay…

Media

Read More: Full Time Legislator, Part Time County Councilman?!?

Government Accountability

Pennsylvania Spending Transparency Moves a Step Forward

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 10, 2009

The Pennsylvania House State Government Committee advanced HB 1880, sponsored by Representative Rick Mirabito, that would create an online database of state spending, similar to legislation already enacted…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Spending Transparency Moves a Step Forward

Health Care

Why Health Care “Reform” Could Increase the Number Uninsured

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 10, 2009

Marty Feldstein has an editorial in the Washington Post detailing how the current health care reform proposals in Congress could actually increase the number of uninsured individuals. Namely, he…

Media

Read More: Why Health Care “Reform” Could Increase the Number Uninsured

Public Union Democracy

If Your Erection Lasts Longer than a SEPTA Strike …

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 9, 2009

Alex Charyna points out this tidbit in the Philadelphia Daily News – one demand of the SEPTA union was more Viagra: Yes, it appears that labor issues…

Media

Read More: If Your Erection Lasts Longer than a SEPTA Strike …

Regulation

Worst Idea for Fixing State Pensions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 9, 2009

Pennsylvania Treasurer Rob McCord told the Pocono Record that now is the time to address the state pension crisis, rather than later, a point the Commonwealth Foundation agrees…

Media

Read More: Worst Idea for Fixing State Pensions

Taxes & Economy

A Brilliant Idea to Balance Cities’ Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 8, 2009

The city of Harrisburg is hiring a consultant to give some tips to balance its budget, ABC 27 reports. Lancaster, PA hired the same firm a few years ago…

Media

Read More: A Brilliant Idea to Balance Cities’ Budget

Government Accountability

Big Government Leads to Big Lobbying

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 8, 2009

The Philadelphia Inquirer has a story today that Pennsylvania business groups – especially in natural gas, tobacco, and gambling industries – spent a lot of money lobbying during the…

Media

Read More: Big Government Leads to Big Lobbying

Regulation

Newspapers Endorse Pennsylvania Liquor Store Privatization

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 6, 2009

Following our report showing that moving from state-run liquor stores to licensure has little impact on alcohol consumption, underage drinking, and DUI rates, Pennsylvania papers are again joining the…

Media

Read More: Newspapers Endorse Pennsylvania Liquor Store Privatization

Government Accountability

Bonusgate Developments and Senate Reforms

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 6, 2009

Tom Barnes of the Post-Gazette notes that the Pennsylvania Senate is outlining a number of new rules, largely related to legislative staff and taxpayer dollars being used to support…

Media

Read More: Bonusgate Developments and Senate Reforms