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.”
Taxes & Economy
Do Voters Want Higher Taxes?
On his blog with the Times Herald, state Senator Daylin Leach makes a couple of absurd claims. First he suggests that residents are more concerned about potholes than high…
Media
Read More: Do Voters Want Higher Taxes?Taxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Gets Another Poor Grade for Business Climate
CNBC has compiled a ranking of “America’s Best States for Business.” Pennsylvania ranks 33rd overall on their index, and gets very poor marks on categories “Cost of Business”, “Workforce”,…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Gets Another Poor Grade for Business ClimateHealth Care
Obama Surtax Effects in Pennsylvania
The Heritage Foundation has the breakdown of how many Pennsylvania residents and small businesses would be effected by the “surtax” to pay for nationalize health care (HT to…
Media
Read More: Obama Surtax Effects in PennsylvaniaState Budget
Pennsylvania Budget Proposals Compared
Here are some resources for comparing the various Pennsylvania state budget proposals. Pennsylvania House Democrats Budget, By the Numbers PA House GOP Budget by the Numbers PA…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Proposals ComparedHealth Care
Coalition of Groups Against Government-Run Health Care
The Commonwealth Foundation has joined a coalition of national organizations in sendinga letter to members of Congress opposing government-run health insurance, individual or employer mandates, and government rationing of…
Media
Read More: Coalition of Groups Against Government-Run Health CareHealth Care
ObamaCare vs. Free Market Solutions
The Heritage Foundation has a new analysis of the US House Democrats’ health care bill, showing that over 80 million people would lose their private insurance, and costs for…
Media
Read More: ObamaCare vs. Free Market SolutionsState Budget
How Much Did Pennsylvania Spend Last Year?
Here is a simple question: Given we have closed the books on last year’s state budget for three weeks, how much did Pennsylvania spend last year? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t…
Media
Read More: How Much Did Pennsylvania Spend Last Year?State Budget
Good Pennsylvania State Budget Questions I Can’t Answer
A reader sent us this, which is an excellent question about how many state worker will really have to be laid off: I have heard a lot of…
Media
Read More: Good Pennsylvania State Budget Questions I Can’t Answer
CF in the Blogosphere
Here is a roundup of recent blogs linking to the Commonwealth Foundation in one way or another. Pro-Life PA links to us linking to a video demonstration of the…
Media
Read More: CF in the BlogosphereGovernment Accountability
Government Ethics: Alaska vs. Pennsylvania
Amanda Carpenter writes about a report that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin may be cited (though no penalties would be attached) for ethics violations for … wait for it ……
Media
Read More: Government Ethics: Alaska vs. PennsylvaniaState Budget
Who’s Telling Half-Truths on Pennsylvania Budget?
Chuck Ardo, the Governor’s spokesman, became incensed (as reported by John Micek) when Sen. Piccola made a strong comment against the governor. During last night’s Senate debate on a…
Media
Read More: Who’s Telling Half-Truths on Pennsylvania Budget?Public Union Democracy
Coalition of Groups Call for Suspension of Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Law
The Commonwealth Foundation joined a coalition of organizations – including business groups, boroughs, and school boards – calling for reforming Pennsylvania’s prevailing wage law. Specific proposals include: Sun setting or…
Media
Read More: Coalition of Groups Call for Suspension of Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage LawState Budget
Tax Foundation Podcast: Pennsylvania Budget Battle
Matt Brouillette is interviewed in the latest Tax Policy Podcast from the Tax Foundation, giving an update of the Pennsylvania Budget Battle.
Media
Read More: Tax Foundation Podcast: Pennsylvania Budget BattleState Budget
“Blue Dog” Democrats Still Against Pennsylvania Tax Increase
State Rep. John Pallone, one of Pennsylvania’s “Blue Dog” Democrats, has penned a statewide letter to the editor noting that he, along with about 20 other unnamed House Democrats, should…
Media
Read More: “Blue Dog” Democrats Still Against Pennsylvania Tax IncreaseEducation
The Faulty Premise of the Budget Impasse
Governor Rendell wants the taxpayers to spend more on public schools. So do Republicans in the General Assembly—nearly 12 percent more. Yet education funding remains a major obstacle in the…
Commentary
Read More: The Faulty Premise of the Budget ImpasseHealth Care
Why We Must Ration Health Care
In a New York Times piece, a bioethics professor defends rationing in health care, stating we have to do it. He uses a number of examples in which the…
Media
Read More: Why We Must Ration Health CareHealth Care
ObamaCare will Raise Costs and Taxes
The Director of the Congressional Budget Office warned that the “public option” and other items in Congressional Democrats’ health care proposals would cause health care costs to increase, not…
Media
Read More: ObamaCare will Raise Costs and TaxesTaxes & Economy
Obama Reverses On Stimulus Promises
The GOP has a pretty hard hitting video on Obama’s stimulus promises. First it shows Obama’s promises that the stimulus would have an “immediate impact” on creating jobs. Then…
Media
Read More: Obama Reverses On Stimulus PromisesState Budget
What Next for Pennsylvania State Budget?
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House passed HB 1416, a vehicle for the state budget. But that should not be taken to mean that Pennsylvania is much closer to having a…
Media
Read More: What Next for Pennsylvania State Budget?Taxes & Economy
Job Losses are Never “Good News”
A number of media outlets, such as the AP, are reporting Pennsylvania’s June job losses of 3,400 with a positive spin, as in the “smallest monthly job loss…
Media
Read More: Job Losses are Never “Good News”Education
PA School Districts Have $2.4 Billion in Reserves
New data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (released last week) show that school districts across the state have a combined $2.4 billion in General Fund reserves as of…
Media
Read More: PA School Districts Have $2.4 Billion in Reserves