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
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 BillTaxes & Economy
Has George W. Bush Seen the Light?
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?
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
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 UnemploymentPublic Union Democracy
New Video: UPS vs. FedEx & Unions
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 & UnionsHealth Care
Congressional Candidates, Pay Attention on Health Care Debate
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…
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Read More: Congressional Candidates, Pay Attention on Health Care Debate
CF in the Blogs
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…
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Read More: CF in the BlogsGovernment Accountability
Majority of Union Members are now Government Employees
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 EmployeesGovernment Accountability
Best and Worst Bonusgate Quotes
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 QuotesTaxes & Economy
The Economic Ignorance of “Fewer Jobs Lost”
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
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 FundsGovernment Accountability
Full Time Legislator, Part Time County Councilman?!?
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
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 ForwardHealth Care
Why Health Care “Reform” Could Increase the Number Uninsured
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 UninsuredPublic Union Democracy
If Your Erection Lasts Longer than a SEPTA Strike …
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
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 PensionsTaxes & Economy
A Brilliant Idea to Balance Cities’ Budget
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…
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Read More: A Brilliant Idea to Balance Cities’ BudgetGovernment Accountability
Big Government Leads to Big Lobbying
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 LobbyingRegulation
Newspapers Endorse Pennsylvania Liquor Store Privatization
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 PrivatizationGovernment Accountability
Bonusgate Developments and Senate Reforms
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…
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Read More: Bonusgate Developments and Senate Reforms