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.”
State Budget
Budget Hearings a Taxpayer-Funded Sham?
The Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee is holding hearings on the vesion of the state budget passed by the Senate (see here for more on that) today and tomorrow. Yet…
Media
Read More: Budget Hearings a Taxpayer-Funded Sham?State Budget
Pennsylvania Budget in Focus
The Commonwealth Foundation will be testifying on the state budget today. Here are some quick facts on the budget: PA Senate Budget by the Numbers Pennsylvania Deficit…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget in FocusGovernment Accountability
Judicial Selection Revisited
John Baer has an interesting column on judicial elections, noting that, when looking at a list of yesterday’s election winners, that “Nobody’s heard of these people” and cites a…
Media
Read More: Judicial Selection RevisitedTaxes & Economy
Why Government Can’t Run a Business
John Steele Gordon has a good op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on why government attempts to run a business always fall short – whether that be health care,…
Media
Read More: Why Government Can’t Run a BusinessHealth Care
Obama’s Health Care Plan
A good article in The American on health care costs, The initial tax hikes on the quarter-million-dollar club are projected to raise $318 billion over ten…
Media
Read More: Obama’s Health Care PlanTaxes & Economy
Higher Taxes in Store for Pennsylvania, Philadelphia?
The Associated Press has a story on the higher taxes that could be in store for Pennsylvanians. These include both the taxes proposed by Governor Rendell – on…
Media
Read More: Higher Taxes in Store for Pennsylvania, Philadelphia?State Budget
Video: “Driving” Federal Debt
Here is a great video explaining the growth in federal debt in an easy to understand metaphor – i.e. how fast presidents are driving. George W. Bush “drove” faster…
Media
Read More: Video: “Driving” Federal DebtEducation
Get the Quarter Back
There is an old joke, with many variations that goes something like this: a foreigner came to visit a friend in America, and they went to watch a Pittsburgh Steelers…
Commentary
Read More: Get the Quarter BackEducation
Does Universal Preschool Improve Learning?
The Heritage Foundation has a new backgrounder asking, “Does Universal Preschool Improve Learning?” The short answer is NO. For the long answer, they examine universal preschool programs…
Media
Read More: Does Universal Preschool Improve Learning?Regulation
Harley Davidson and the Problem with Corporate Welfare
Harley Davidson’s announcement that they may shut down their plant in York illustrates the problem with taxpayer funded corporate welfare. For starters, Harley Davidson has received $4.3 million…
Media
Read More: Harley Davidson and the Problem with Corporate WelfareTaxes & Economy
PUC Commissioners Oppose Cap and Trade
The Vice Chairman and two other Commissioners of the Pennsylvania Utility Commission sent a letter to the PA Congressional Delegation in opposition to proposed cap and trade legislation. …
Media
Read More: PUC Commissioners Oppose Cap and TradeTaxes & Economy
Those Corporate Tax “Loopholes”
Robert Samuelson has an outstanding piece in the Washington Post, exposing many of the myths exposed by Obama’s plan to crack down on “corporate loopholes”.
Media
Read More: Those Corporate Tax “Loopholes”
The Worst Bailout in the World?
Ultra left-wing demagogue Keith Olbermann has a segment in which he calls out the “Worst Person in the World” – usually anyone speaking out rationally against Olbermann’s views will win…
Media
Read More: The Worst Bailout in the World?Education
PA School Districts to Get 12% Increase in Support
Despite all the whining about budget cuts from the Rendell Administration (even though Rendell demanded there be “no whining”), Pennsylvania school districts are set to get substantially more…
Media
Read More: PA School Districts to Get 12% Increase in SupportHealth Care
Obama’s Health Care Quackery
Shikha Dalmia has a piece on Reason.com discussing the falacy that “universal health care.” The Obama plan would in fact, move the US closer to European countries, Canada, and…
Media
Read More: Obama’s Health Care QuackeryState Budget
Pennsylvania Budget by Department Under Rendell
Critics (mainly, recipients of taxpayer funds) of the budget passed by the Pennsylvania Senate last week decry it for cutting spending, claiming it is “jeopardizing access to hospital care…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Budget by Department Under RendellRegulation
Trying to Fight Unfunded Mandates? Go Directly to Jail.
Township Supervisors in Cromwell Township (Huntington County) are fighting a mandate from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to install a public sewer system. The supervisors claim such a system…
Media
Read More: Trying to Fight Unfunded Mandates? Go Directly to Jail.Regulation
What Cap and Trade Will Cost
A Heritage Foundation analysis finds that proposed “Cap and Trade” legislation will cost the average American family $3,900 per year. The chart to the left compares the cost…
Media
Read More: What Cap and Trade Will CostHealth Care
Satisfaction with Health Care: U.S. v Canada
John Lott has some interesting research on the satisfaction of U.S. and Canadians on their health care. The primary finding of his study (downloadable here), is that Canadians…
Media
Read More: Satisfaction with Health Care: U.S. v CanadaTaxes & Economy
What Are They Drinking in DC?
Ok, this is getting pathetic. I was going to ridicule Obama’s proposal to cut $17 billion from the federal budget, just as I ridiculed his previous proposal to cut…
Media
Read More: What Are They Drinking in DC?Regulation
Will Pennsylvanians Starve Without Farm Subsidies?
Some early criticism coming from the Rendell administration about the Senate budget is that cuts to the Department of Agriculture will result in less farming and possibly event mass…
Media
Read More: Will Pennsylvanians Starve Without Farm Subsidies?