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.”
Regulation
State Regulation of Bake Sales Goes Too Far
Hat Tip to Tom Shaheen of the PA Family Institute for this story of the weird/big government. It turns out that the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has been…
Media
Read More: State Regulation of Bake Sales Goes Too FarTaxes & Economy
State Personal Income and Pennsylvania’s Economic Ranking
The Bureau of Economic Analysis has released the latest data on personal income by state. For the first time in many years, Pennsylvania grew faster than the nation as…
Media
Read More: State Personal Income and Pennsylvania’s Economic RankingTaxes & Economy
State Personal Income and Pennsylvania’s Economic Ranking
The Bureau of Economic Analysis has released the latest data on personal income by state. For the first time in many years, Pennsylvania grew faster than the nation as…
Media
Read More: State Personal Income and Pennsylvania’s Economic RankingGovernment Accountability
Taxpayers Spend $2.3 Million to Defend Fumo
ABC 27 has a story on the amount of OPM – “other people’s money,” i.e. taxpayers – used to defend former Sen. Vince Fumo, who was convicted of illegally…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers Spend $2.3 Million to Defend FumoTaxes & Economy
Musical Chairs at Pennnsylvania Turnpike
Governor Rendell has promptly dumped Mitchell Rubin as chairperson of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and replaced him with Michael Pratt of Pepper Hamilton LLP. Toll Roads News…
Media
Read More: Musical Chairs at Pennnsylvania TurnpikeTaxes & Economy
Musical Chairs at Pennnsylvania Turnpike
Governor Rendell has promptly dumped Mitchell Rubin as chairperson of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and replaced him with Michael Pratt of Pepper Hamilton LLP. Toll Roads News…
Media
Read More: Musical Chairs at Pennnsylvania TurnpikeRegulation
No “Property Tax Relief” This Year?
Sharon Smith writes that the slots taxes may not generate enough revenue to trigger property relief this year. By law, the Property Tax Relief Fund must have $570 million…
Media
Read More: No “Property Tax Relief” This Year?Taxes & Economy
Spending Under President George W. Bush
The Mercatus Center has a final analysis of spending under the Bush presidency – including the growth in spending, comparisons to Clinton and previous spender, pork projects, and growth…
Media
Read More: Spending Under President George W. BushEducation
Bailouts and Bull
John Stossel’s latest 20/20 special on bailouts and bull debunks numerous big-government myths, including the bailout mentality. Stosell also tackles toll road privatization, universal Pre-K, medical marijuana, the border…
Media
Read More: Bailouts and BullTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Turnpike Chair Target of FBI
KYW Radio reports that Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Chairman Mitch Rubin is now the target of an FBI Corruption probe. This should not be a surprise, following the conviction…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Chair Target of FBITaxes & Economy
More on the AIG Bonuses
Greg Mankiw notes that the AIG bonuses, which seem to be such a focus of Congressional leaders these days, amount to 0.001% of GDP – a pretty trivial amount…
Media
Read More: More on the AIG BonusesTaxes & Economy
Does Pennsylvania Need to Fund Public TV?
The Allegheny Institute has an excellent post on state funding of public television. The local Pittsburgh station – WQED – is asking viewers to contribute “their two cents”; not…
Media
Read More: Does Pennsylvania Need to Fund Public TV?Government Accountability
More Taxpayer Money Wasted on Promotions and Marketing
I’m not sure if readers are aware of this, but Congress recently passed something called a “stimulus” bill a few weeks ago. In order to publicize the stimulus funding,…
Media
Read More: More Taxpayer Money Wasted on Promotions and MarketingEducation
School Choice Battles Wage On
Mary Katherine Ham has an excellent article on the battle over the DC Scholarship Program.The Philadelphia Bulletin also has a recent article, noting an Obama spokesman has said…
Media
Read More: School Choice Battles Wage OnRegulation
Gaming Control Board Under Fire
Sen. Jane Orie, Rep. Mike Vereb, and a few other Republican lawmakers teed off on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control board, for their travel habits during a travel ban. …
Media
Read More: Gaming Control Board Under FireTaxes & Economy
Who’s Really “Nuts” on Economic Policy?
We posted yesterday on the Turzai-Quigley proposal to cut state spending and tax rates. Today Governor Rendell called Turzai “nuts” and his plan “ludicrous“. Rendell has previously lambasted…
Media
Read More: Who’s Really “Nuts” on Economic Policy?
Benefield to Casey: Stop Rewarding Failure
I received an email from my Senator, Bob Casey, with the subject “Casey to AIG: Do the Right Thing“, in which he asked for constituents to submit their thoughts. …
Media
Read More: Benefield to Casey: Stop Rewarding FailureGovernment Accountability
Term Limits Needed in Pennsylvania
John Baer writes that the recent Vince Fumo conviction – the latest in a long history of corruption by long-time Pennsylvania lawmakers – is another reason why Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Term Limits Needed in PennsylvaniaHealth Care
Free Markets: An Unknown Ideal
President Obama, Governor Rendell, and many in the media have been echoing a similar refrain recently, "Conservatives had their chance. We tried free markets, and they failed." When exactly they…
Commentary
Read More: Free Markets: An Unknown IdealRegulation
Representatives Propose Putting State Government on a Diet
State Representatives Mike Turzai and Tom Quigley unveiled a plan to cut about $170 million wasteful spending from the Pennsylvania state budget ($130 million relative to Gov. Rendell’s proposed…
Media
Read More: Representatives Propose Putting State Government on a DietPublic Union Democracy
AFL-CIO Pledges Votes for Specter in Quid Pro Quo
Our good friend Bill George, head of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, has promised to help out Sen. Arlen Specter, if and only if he votes for “card check”, the…
Media
Read More: AFL-CIO Pledges Votes for Specter in Quid Pro Quo