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.”
AIG Execs Deserved Their Bonuses
Despite the anger many people – including President Obama – feel over AIG giving out $156 million in bonuses, I have to say they earned it, as I’ve…
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Dormitory Construction Boom
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has an article on the enormous rise in spending on university buildings, which touches on the current debate in higher ed funding:…
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Vouchers Improve Public Schools
A new review of studies by Greg Forster of the Friedman Foundation finds that public school systems have benefited from voucher programs: “Contrary to the widespread claim that…
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Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law
Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, March 12, 2009 Good afternoon. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. We…
Testimony
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Charter School LawRegulation
State Employees Take Taxpayer-Funded Trips
Team 4 has an amazing exposé of taxpayer-funded travel by Pennsylvania state employees, in particular the gaming control board–after a travel ban was implement. Here are some of the…
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Funding for Cybers up For Debate
The Philadelphia Inquirer has a story about an upcoming hearing on charter schools and cyber school funding. As I will be testifying at the hearing, I won’t repeat my…
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Read More: Funding for Cybers up For DebatePublic Union Democracy
Quick Trivia Question
From Mark Perry – what do the 8 states states with the lowest January unemployment rates have in common? Answer – the are all Right to Work states.
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Obama’s Budget: More of the Same You Can Believe In
The Cato Institute’s Chris Edwards has the latest Tax and Budget bulletin, with an updated analysis of spending by president. The bulletin reiterates what Cato has been saying…
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The Next Bailout – LexCorp?
Lex Luthor makes the case as to why he is deserving of a federal bailout on Funny or Die. My favorite part is “Superman just flew backwards around…
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Sanford to Refuse Stimulus Funds – Example for Rendell
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has announced he will reject much of the federal stimulus dollars coming to his state. Like Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, he recognizes that…
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Stimulus Money to be used as Political Reward
From Pennsylvania Avenue (via Capitol Ideas), Congressman Brady thinks Governor Rendell should use stimulus money to reward Democrats who voted for the bill. Did you think the stimulus…
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Read More: Stimulus Money to be used as Political RewardPublic Union Democracy
The Attack on the Secret Ballot
Tom Gies has an article in The American on the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as card check, which would do away with the secret ballot in union…
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Establishing the “Facts” about Pennsylvania’s Economy
Chuck Ardo – spokesman for Gov. Rendell – has an op-ed in Sunday’s Patriot News about what a great success Gov. Rendell’s economic policy has been. This taxpayer-funded propaganda…
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Read More: Establishing the “Facts” about Pennsylvania’s EconomyHealth Care
Will Rendell Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs?
Governor Rendell announced a number of new proposals increasing the number of people in Adult Basic health care, shifting funds to help with mortgage assistance and home heating cost.
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On Specter’s Economic Remarks
Roxbury News has posted video of Arlen Specter’s remarks yesterday (part II here) at the State Capitol. Three things really bother me regarding his defense of his vote…
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Read More: On Specter’s Economic RemarksRegulation
Government liquor store monopoly hates perception of government monopoly
The quote of the day does to Joe Conti, head of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, who said in a story about customer service training for LCB clerks,…
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Money Squanderers
Brad Bumsted has an excellent op-ed on why Pennsylvania lawmakers’ Bibles, gifts from the speaker, legal fees, and the like are just a few among many…
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Freedom in Pennsylvania and the 50 states
The Mercatus Center has a new report ranking freedom – both personal and economic – in the 50 states. Overall, they rank Pennsylvania 20th. See a related story…
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Harrisburg Tea Party Pics and Videos
We had over 1,000 folks (some estimates higher, some a bit under 1,000) at today's Harrisburg Tea Party. Not knowing how many people to expect, I have to say…
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What does a trillion dollars look like?
Since it is extremely difficult for most people to grasp enormous dollar amounts that government spends, e.g. $1 Trillion, we often have to resort to gimics, such as “spending $1…
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State Bus Tour to Promote PA Lottery
From the “Are you kidding me?” department is this announcement that, despite a massive budget deficit, the state is launching a statewide bus tour to promote a new Pennsylvania…
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