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
Rendell previews budget plan
The Altoona Mirror has a good summary of things to expect when Governor Rendell unveils the budget next week. The problems of a poor economy are compounded by…
Media
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Pennsylvania Auditor Finds Millions Wasted in Medicaid
Auditor General Jack Wagner has a new finding that $3.3 million was spend on Medicaid benefits for those inelligible (HT Tony Phyrillas). That $3.3 million figure (on 1,648…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Auditor Finds Millions Wasted in MedicaidTaxes & Economy
PA Business Groups Offer Budget Ideas
A coalition of business association and groups unveiled their recommendations for reforming Pennsylvania’s budget process and improving the business climate: Oppose increasing taxes on the job creators, including…
Media
Read More: PA Business Groups Offer Budget IdeasTaxes & Economy
Layoffs coming for Pennsylvania state workers?
Governor Rendell’s latest statements about the state budget are that 1,000 to 2,000 state workers could be laid off (or have unfilled positions eliminated). The head of the AFSCME…
Media
Read More: Layoffs coming for Pennsylvania state workers?Regulation
Endorsement for Pension Reform
The Courier Expess expresses support for moving Pennsylvania state and school district employees to a 401(k) model defined contribution retirement plan. Specifically, they mention the proposal put forth…
Media
Read More: Endorsement for Pension ReformTaxes & Economy
200 Economists Against a Stimulus
In defiance of President Obama’s proclamation that every agrees we need more government spending to “simulate” the economy, the Cato Institute has put together a list of 200 economists…
Media
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Bailout For The ‘Inquirer’?
Chris Freind interviews Chuck Ardo, spokesman for Governor Rendell, on the rumors of a bailout for the Philadelphia Inquirer. (HT GrassrootsPA). Ardo seems oblivious to the idea that…
Media
Read More: Bailout For The ‘Inquirer’?Public Union Democracy
Putting Taxpayers First?
A group of Pennsylvania House Republicans today announced a series of proposals intended to reduce government spending and revitalize the Pennsylvania economy. Among the proposals: Implementing constitutional or statutory…
Media
Read More: Putting Taxpayers First?Taxes & Economy
Stimulus: Good For Government, Bad For the Economy
This video by Dan Mitchell on the stimulus offers a quick primer on the “stimulus” package, and why government spending will fail – and why previous expansions of government…
Media
Read More: Stimulus: Good For Government, Bad For the EconomyRegulation
Six Years of Rendells Stimulus is Enough
Gov. Ed Rendell is, as head of the National Governor’s Association as well as the chief of a state facing a major revenue shortfall, leading the push for a federal…
Commentary
Read More: Six Years of Rendells Stimulus is EnoughTaxes & Economy
A bailout of the states rewards fiscal recklessness
The Wall Street Journal has a great article and graph (to the right) on how states have overspent, and are certainly not in need of a bailout from…
Media
Read More: A bailout of the states rewards fiscal recklessnessGovernment Accountability
Deforming the Pennsylvania House?
Democracy Rising Pennsylvania has an alert about proposed rules changes in the Pennsylvania House of Representative, that would undo much of the reforms of 2007. The changes including easing…
Media
Read More: Deforming the Pennsylvania House?Taxes & Economy
Ode to Taxpayers’ Cars
The Auditor General recently release a new report on state-owned cars. Unless you are enjoying a taxpayer-owned Mercedes, this report won’t make you happy. The report mentions early and…
Media
Read More: Ode to Taxpayers’ CarsRegulation
Those who do not learn from history …
Deb Erdley has an article in the Tribune Review about the increasing taxpayer cost for the Pittsburgh Penguins arena, as well as details on the $1.5 billion in borrowed…
Media
Read More: Those who do not learn from history …State Budget
Rendell to layoff workers, keep rewarding allies
Governor Rendell today announced that he projects Pennsylvania’s revenue shortfall to reach $2.3 billion, updated from $1.6 billion a month ago and $1.9 billion a week ago, suggesting their…
Media
Read More: Rendell to layoff workers, keep rewarding alliesGovernment Accountability
CF Now: Opening Pennsylvania Government
View our newest video on YouTube, highlighting current efforts to create more government transparency in Pennsylvania. Here are some of the key resources on Open Government: CF Projects…
Media
Read More: CF Now: Opening Pennsylvania GovernmentRegulation
Boscov’s Bailout On the Ropes
Butler County joined with Snyder County yesterday in rejecting the proposed loan for Boscov’s (HT Capitol Ideas). This puts state officials back to the drawing board to find…
Media
Read More: Boscov’s Bailout On the RopesTaxes & Economy
Read the Stimulus
ReadtheStimulus.org is a new website put together by the Heritage Foundation, NTU, CAGW, and more, which encourages members of Congress to read the bill before voting on it, and…
Media
Read More: Read the Stimulus
Distracted Legislators
Page 13 News makes a mockery of a proposed ban on cell phone use while driving, wondering why we don’t ban other “distractions”, like food, the radio, or…
Media
Read More: Distracted LegislatorsEducation
Some More “half” Truths on the PSEA
The Tribune-Democrat features an editorial by a PSEA member in which he calls Matt Brouillette’s commentary “a hodgepodge of distortions, half-truths and unadulterated flapdoodle”. I have no idea…
Media
Read More: Some More “half” Truths on the PSEA
Global Warming Skepticism on the Rise
The NCPA Daily Digest has a number of facts that might indicate the debate on global warming is not “over”: over the past decade the global average temperature has…
Media
Read More: Global Warming Skepticism on the Rise