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.”
Government Accountability
Prizes for bloggers, citizen activists, video producers, and more
Our friends at the Sam Adams Alliance have something called The Sammies awards (with cash prizes) to encourage bloggers and citizens to get involved in political action. Here…
Media
Read More: Prizes for bloggers, citizen activists, video producers, and moreEducation
Charter schools produce graduates, cost less
Jay P. Greene’s blog points to a couple of recent studies on charter schools. The first one (link to full study here) shows that charter schools in Florida…
Media
Read More: Charter schools produce graduates, cost less
Turnpike Commission Cutting Work Force
Following traffic and revenue declines, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced it will be reducing its staff size starting with a “voluntary departure program”, with layoffs to be next. Curiously,…
Media
Read More: Turnpike Commission Cutting Work ForceGovernment Accountability
Free-market internship, jobs, and grant opportunities
Some good opportunities to earn money working for liberty for college students, recent graduates and young professionals, and young journalists to pass along:Charles G. Koch Summer Fellow…
Media
Read More: Free-market internship, jobs, and grant opportunitiesGovernment Accountability
Shed a little light on your government
ShowMeTheSpending.com, a project of the National Taxpayers Union (with a coalition of groups) has relaunched as a wiki (like Wikipedia) as part of the Sunshine Review…
Media
Read More: Shed a little light on your governmentGovernment Accountability
Corruption and Potential for Reform in State Contracts
Chris Freind has a five part series in The Bulletin on conflicts of interest, corruption, and the inability to get reforms passed in how state contracts are awarded. The…
Media
Read More: Corruption and Potential for Reform in State ContractsTaxes & Economy
RINO Season Is Now Open
Ted Nugent declares “RINOs” fair game in a poignant piece on Human Events There are really only four things I have a strong aversion to: unloaded guns,…
Media
Read More: RINO Season Is Now OpenPublic Union Democracy
Which Obama Will Be President?
Will an Obama presidency bring a lurch to the political Left in America? This is of great concern for those of us who believe that our prosperity and security do…
Commentary
Read More: Which Obama Will Be President?Government Accountability
Speaker Franklin Award Dinner Video
Coverage of our Speaker Franklin Awards Dinner will air on PCN at 4:10 today. The video is also available on our YouTube Channel and below. Gov.
Media
Read More: Speaker Franklin Award Dinner VideoHealth Care
Where will Obama go on health care?
In our commentary today, Matt Brouillette and I argue that President Obama will pursue a somewhat tempered course – we will get the Obama of the general election campaign…
Media
Read More: Where will Obama go on health care?Taxes & Economy
Bailout execs get bonus billions
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has a story on how executives of firms getting money from the financial bailout are also getting large bonuses (more at Beyond Bailouts). Personally, I…
Media
Read More: Bailout execs get bonus billionsGovernment Accountability
RIP, Catherine Baker Knoll
As many readers are aware, Pennsylvania Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll passed away last night. Here is the Patriot News Story. John Micek has posted reactions from…
Media
Read More: RIP, Catherine Baker KnollHealth Care
Medicaid reform: For the poor and the poor taxpayer
Cross-Posted at Capital Domes The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review recently looked at the looming budget shortfall and its potential impact on Medicaid spending. The legislature couldn’t simply…
Media
Read More: Medicaid reform: For the poor and the poor taxpayerTaxes & Economy
Free markets are under attack again
Matt Welch has an excellent article on Reason Magazine on the financial bailout and the debate over the role of government and the free market: President George…
Media
Read More: Free markets are under attack againHealth Care
Government Health Care Kills
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is calling on the Pennsylvania Senate leadership to break their pledge not to hold a lame duck session. Among Rendell’s rhetorical arguments is that “nearly…
Media
Read More: Government Health Care KillsEducation
National Campaign for School Choice Launched
Our friends at the Alliance for School Choice have launched a new campaign – Let Parents Choose – aimed at recruiting 10,000 activists and supporters of school choice.
Media
Read More: National Campaign for School Choice LaunchedGovernment Accountability
Book Review: The Best-Laid Plans
Fans of The Road to Serfdom will recognize the dangers of government planning. Unfortunately, government planning has become even more prevalent in the US since Hayek’s warning. Randal O’Toole’s book…
Media
Read More: Book Review: The Best-Laid PlansEducation
School Choice Improves Student Learning
While evidence on school choice programs in the US indicates both benefits for student recipients and competitive benefits for public schools (not to mention greater parental satisfaction…
Media
Read More: School Choice Improves Student LearningTaxes & Economy
Detroit Auto Makers Need More Than a Bailout
A mostly on-target piece in the Wall Street Journal explains why a blank check to the Detroit automakers won’t solve their problems: In return for any direct…
Media
Read More: Detroit Auto Makers Need More Than a BailoutGovernment Accountability
Book Review: Income and Wealth
Alan Reynold’s Income and Wealth offers a primer on data on income, taxes, and the economy, and counters some of the most popular myths, usually circulated by left-wing groups…
Media
Read More: Book Review: Income and WealthState Budget
Taxpayers still buying promotional calendars for lawmakers
Dennis Owens of ABC 27 has a story that the latest Capitol Calendars (“courtesy” of your legislator) are now available. Owens recalled our breakdown of the cost of…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers still buying promotional calendars for lawmakers