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.”
RIP Rose Friedman
Here is a statement from our friends at the REACH Foundation on the passing of Rose Friedman yesterday: Rose Director Friedman passed away today, Tuesday, August 18, 2009,…
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Lots More Reasons why ObamaCare isn’t Popular
Pete DeCoursey has an interesting column on Capitowire (subscription) about why people oppose ObamaCare. He hits the main point correct — most people are satisfied with their coverage (…
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Read More: Lots More Reasons why ObamaCare isn’t PopularEducation
Won’t Somebody Think of the Children!?
Jim Roxbury brought to my attention a quote by Governor Rendell that “the one group that has no lobbyist here in Pennsylvania is our children” as well as too…
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Read More: Won’t Somebody Think of the Children!?Health Care
Scrutinize the Health Care Bill
We’ve gotten a few calls over the last few days asking where to get and read the 1,200 page health care bill being debated in Congress. Here are some resources:…
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Read More: Scrutinize the Health Care BillEducation
Dramatic Government Spending Increases are Never Enough
The Patriot News has an AP story by Marc Levy, highlighting recipients of taxpayer funding that want more taxpayer funding. It seems these groups are living in another world. …
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Read More: Dramatic Government Spending Increases are Never EnoughEducation
Who’s the Teacher?
If you thought the Eagles bringing in Michael Vick was a bad idea, wait until you hear this – the Philadelphia Public Schools might bring in Tony…
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Read More: Who’s the Teacher?Health Care
RightOnline Health Care Panel
Right Online held a panel on health care reform today, which I had the honor of speaking at, along with Amy Menefee of Americans for Prosperity and the…
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Read More: RightOnline Health Care PanelTaxes & Economy
Is the Stimulus Working?
Over at Cato, Chris Edwards asks Is the Stimulus Working?, taking a look at the components of GDP. As Edwards notes, “Government expansions usually cause private sector contractions” and…
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Read More: Is the Stimulus Working?Health Care
Government Managed Health Care isn’t the “Reform” We Need
The Independence Institute has another great video on the problems when government makes health care decisions – this time use Oregon as an example, and how they prioritize Medicaid…
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Read More: Government Managed Health Care isn’t the “Reform” We NeedEducation
Is the PSSA Too Easy?
The Allegheny Institute takes issue with the latest round of Pennsylvania test results – specifically the 8th grade reading PSSA. They note that not only does the 8th grade…
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Read More: Is the PSSA Too Easy?Regulation
Cost of Government Represents 61% of U.S. Income – Higher for Pennsylvania
Americans for Tax Reform has a new report on the Cost of Government, finding that Aug. 12 – day 224 of 2009 – is how long it takes Americans…
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Read More: Cost of Government Represents 61% of U.S. Income – Higher for Pennsylvania
Blog Roundup
Here are some recent citations, links, or mentions of the Commonwealth Foundation from Pennsylvania bloggers: PA WaterCooler notes the odds of getting laid off in the public vs. private…
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Read More: Blog RoundupState Budget
Putting Rendell’s Layoffs in Perspective
Yesterday, Gov. Rendell announced layoffs for 255 state workers at a press conference, and said more might be coming if lawmakers don’t pass a budget to Rendell’s liking. But…
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Read More: Putting Rendell’s Layoffs in PerspectiveHealth Care
Effect of ObamaCare on Pennsylvania
The Heritage Foundation has a new analysis from the Lewin Group on the impact in Pennsylvania on private health care coverage, the uninsured, and physicians and hospitals of the…
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Rendell Declares Autism Mandate a Failure
In 2008, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed, and Gov. Rendell signed, a new mandate that private insurers would have to cover autism services. At the time, we said the new…
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Read More: Rendell Declares Autism Mandate a FailureEducation
School District Consolidation Shows Few Benefits
Last week, the Senate Education Committee held a hearing on proposed school district consolidation. The Allegheny Institute testified, noting that there is little evidence to suggest that consolidation (as…
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Read More: School District Consolidation Shows Few BenefitsState Budget
Cash for Clunkers Falls Prey to Laws of Economics
Congress’s ill-named “cash for clunkers” program has, like so many programs before it, failed to defy the laws of economics. As typically happens when government subsidizes something – the…
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Read More: Cash for Clunkers Falls Prey to Laws of EconomicsHealth Care
Join the “Mob”
You might find it interesting that the special interests who denounce individuals voicing opposition to ObamaCare as “astroturf,” a “mob,” and part of a vast right-wing conspiracy (and occasionally…
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Read More: Join the “Mob”Government Accountability
Dwight Evan’s Favorite WAM Recipient Has Plenty of Problems
The Philadelphia Inquirer exposes another nonprofit with ties to a state lawmaker – this time House Democrat Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans – whose use of tax dollars seems sketchy…
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Read More: Dwight Evan’s Favorite WAM Recipient Has Plenty of ProblemsHealth Care
Attacking the Messengers on Health Care Reform
President Obama, Dick Durbin, the unions, and shills at MSNBC have taken to calling protesters who disagree with their health care agenda as shills for corporate interests or “the…
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Read More: Attacking the Messengers on Health Care ReformHealth Care
Who I’m Going to Report for Spreading Misinformation about Health Care Reform
I’m sure by now everyone has seen the White House’s call for reporting anyone who is spreading “misinformation” or anything “fishy” about Obama’s proposed health care reform to…
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