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.”
Education
Will Government-Run Preschool Help Fight Al-Qaeda?
The Patriot News has a blurb about former generals saying that government-run preschool will help improve the military, and that if the Pennsylvania Senate budget passes, the terrorists…
Media
Read More: Will Government-Run Preschool Help Fight Al-Qaeda?Government Accountability
Pennsylvanians Deserve Open Budget Debate
With the approach of June 30th and the end of the state’s fiscal year comes the annual argument in Harrisburg over Pennsylvania’s budget. With Senate Republicans having passed a spending…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvanians Deserve Open Budget DebateTaxes & Economy
Rendell Budget 2.0
In remarks yesterday, Gov. Rendell announced that he will cut at least $400 million from his earlier spending plan. He then went on to berate himself for being…
Media
Read More: Rendell Budget 2.0Health Care
Still Looking for Free Market Health Care Proposals
Ryan Ellis has a good post over on RedState on the Congressional Republican health care plan (see previous post here) and offering much more serious proposal for transforming…
Media
Read More: Still Looking for Free Market Health Care ProposalsGovernment Accountability
PA Senate Passes Spending Transparency
Legislation which we have discussed many times on this blog (see previous posts here and here, and Elizabeth Bryan’s commentary here) to create an online database…
Media
Read More: PA Senate Passes Spending TransparencyTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Budget Deficit Reaches $2.8 Billion
The latest report from the PA Department of Revenue, through the end of May, indicate that Pennsylvania’s General Fund revenue shortfall has now reached $2.8 billion for the fiscal…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Deficit Reaches $2.8 BillionRegulation
Another Bad Pension Proposal
The Post-Gazette has a story of another reform to municipal pension plans. The plan would be to put all new municipal employees into a statewide, defined benefit pension system.
Media
Read More: Another Bad Pension ProposalGovernment Accountability
Last Chance to Enter Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest
The deadline for entering our Please, No More Taxes! video contest is midnight tonight (June 1). There are $4,000 in prizes available for the top 3 entries. Contest rules…
Media
Read More: Last Chance to Enter Please, No More Taxes! Video ContestTaxes & Economy
June 9th Taxpayers’ Protest
Rep. Daryl Metcalfe is helping to coordinate a “Taxpayer’s Protest” on June 9 in Harrisburg. All taxpayers are encouraged to come down to the state…
Media
Read More: June 9th Taxpayers’ ProtestGovernment Accountability
Transparency Needed in Pennsylvania Budget Debate
ABC 27 has a news story and video on proposed legislation that would create an online portal and database of state spending in Pennsylvania. What is most disappointing…
Media
Read More: Transparency Needed in Pennsylvania Budget DebateRegulation
Will Tourism Collapse Without Taxpayer Subsidies?
Letter sent from the Commonwealth Foundation to Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of Tourism Mickey Rowley Dear Mr. Rowley: I am writing to respond to the Pennsylvania Tourism Office's recent…
Media
Read More: Will Tourism Collapse Without Taxpayer Subsidies?Education
Teachers Union vs. Taxpayers and Students (Draft)
The Blackhawk Education Association sparked ligation costing taxpayers in the Blackhawk School District over $160,000. The district was paying tutors the rate of substitute teachers, but the union had…
Media
Read More: Teachers Union vs. Taxpayers and Students (Draft)Education
Philadelphia Limits Choices for School Children
Brad Vasoli has a troubling article in The Bulletin about how the Philadelphia School District is trying to limit the enrollment of charter schools in the district. District officials…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia Limits Choices for School ChildrenTaxes & Economy
Will Government Motors be a Partisan Operation?
With the federal government taking control over Chrysler and GM, ill-conceived ideas are sure to ensue. The planned restructuring of GM (soon be renamed Government Motors?) is one…
Media
Read More: Will Government Motors be a Partisan Operation?Taxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to Reapply to Toll I-80
Tom Barnes in the Post-Gazette has a story on how some Pennsylvania lawmakers, who hail from nowhere near the I-80 corridor, want the Turnpike Commission to reapply to toll…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to Reapply to Toll I-80Health Care
Will Obama Embrace Real Health Care Reform?
Congressional Republicans unveiled an alternative health care reform proposal last week. Grace Marie Turner and Joseph Antos offer a glowing review of the plan. John Goodman offers a…
Media
Read More: Will Obama Embrace Real Health Care Reform?Taxes & Economy
Lose-Lose on Biofuels?
The American Magazine features an update on misguided ethanol and biofuel mandates, from a recent EPA report: While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analysis suggests that the switch…
Media
Read More: Lose-Lose on Biofuels?Taxes & Economy
“Taxing the Rich” Won’t Help Pennsylvania
The Wall Street Journal has an article today on how Maryland’s higher taxes on “the rich” drove millionaires to move to other states. Last week, the NY Post had…
Media
Read More: “Taxing the Rich” Won’t Help PennsylvaniaState Budget
Need to Review Speed Limits in PA?
The Tribune Review has an article today noting that Pennsylvania is one of few states, and the only one of our neighbors, that doesn’t have a speed limit greater…
Media
Read More: Need to Review Speed Limits in PA?Government Accountability
Texting While Driving: Everyone Does It, So Make it Illegal
A new study finds that 25% of individuals admit they send text messages while driving. Astonishingly, however, 83% want to make it illegal to do so. I am…
Media
Read More: Texting While Driving: Everyone Does It, So Make it IllegalGovernment Accountability
Conservative Intellectualism vs. Populism
The discussion between Jerry Taylor, Dan Mitchell, and Brink Lindsey on the Cato Institute blog (and NRO’s Corner) on Rush Limbaugh, tea parties, and conservative thought have been…
Media
Read More: Conservative Intellectualism vs. Populism