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
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 lawmakersHealth Care
Taxes, Health Care, and GOP Strategists
Fox News has an article about the future of the GOP, and its search for rising starts. It is a pretty good piece, except for comments by Republican strategist…
Media
Read More: Taxes, Health Care, and GOP StrategistsPublic Union Democracy
Voters still like limited government, lower taxes
A poll from the Club For Growth surveyed voters in 12 competitive Congressional districts; eleven of the 12 switched hands from Republican to Democrat following Tuesday’s elections. The results…
Media
Read More: Voters still like limited government, lower taxesTaxes & Economy
The end of Big Government Conservatism?
Following John McCain’s loss, conservatives and pundits will start looking to offer an explanation. To keep it simple, let me say this: The financial bailout killed whatever chance McCain’s had.
Media
Read More: The end of Big Government Conservatism?Government Accountability
Turnout in Pennsylvania Declines
HT to Grassroots PA for this story – Turnout in Pennsylvania not only didn’t break records, it declined (both as a percentage of registered voters and in total…
Media
Read More: Turnout in Pennsylvania DeclinesTaxes & Economy
Remember Remember the Fifth of November
In honor of Guy Fawkes day, here are some clips for V for Vendetta because ideas, not politicians offer real hope and change “We are told to remember…
Media
Read More: Remember Remember the Fifth of NovemberTaxes & Economy
Capitalism and the Financial Crisis
Walter Williams has a great column on the mortgage meltdown and the free market You can decide whether we have in an unregulated laissez-faire economy. There are 15…
Media
Read More: Capitalism and the Financial CrisisGovernment Accountability
Pennsylvania House and Senate Results
Based on elections results from the Pennsylvania Department of State and the Tribune Review: Republicans pick up one seat in the PA Senate. Their current majority will be 29-20, with…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania House and Senate ResultsGovernment Accountability
Voter Fraud and Intimidation in Philadelphia and elsewhere
A couple of good resources exposing (and seeking citizen journalists) on voter fraud and intimidation are Voter Fraud Squad and Election Journal. The latter has video of two…
Media
Read More: Voter Fraud and Intimidation in Philadelphia and elsewhereTaxes & Economy
Rendell lies on Social Security
A few days ago, Governor Rendell complained that the McCain campaign was “deplorable” and “despicable” for trying to scare voters by painting an inaccurate portrait of “spreading the wealth”…
Media
Read More: Rendell lies on Social SecurityTaxes & Economy
Election Day Reading – Taxes, Great Depression, and Policy
Here are some of the best articles of the day: Lawrence Kudlow is stunned by a poll showing voters think Obama is the real taxpayer. He also exposes an…
Media
Read More: Election Day Reading – Taxes, Great Depression, and PolicyEducation
Education Spending: Grass vs. Artificial Turf Football Fields
To demonstrate how school spending has grown so dramatically, the York Dispatch has a story on the great debate raging on how much to spend on the turf for…
Media
Read More: Education Spending: Grass vs. Artificial Turf Football FieldsTaxes & Economy
Higher taxes won’t help Pennsylvania economy
The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC) issued a news release, gleefully welcoming the looming state budget deficit and tax increase. Their exuberance is due to the fact…
Media
Read More: Higher taxes won’t help Pennsylvania economyRegulation
Taxpayers to give additional $3M to Lancaster convention center
Retiring Sen. Gib Armstrong – mostly in the news these days for noting how large Pennsylvania’s growing budget shortfall is – has promised to deliver $3 million in…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers to give additional $3M to Lancaster convention centerTaxes & Economy
Real Hope and Change Comes From Ideas Not Politics
In 1993, I officially launched my campaign for President of the United States. Granted, I was only 17 years old, hadn’t graduated high school yet, and wasn’t a member of…
Commentary
Read More: Real Hope and Change Comes From Ideas Not PoliticsHealth Care
Is health care freedom in jeopardy?
The Wall Street Journal makes note of a ballot measure in Arizona which reads: “no law shall be passed that restricts a person’s freedom of…
Media
Read More: Is health care freedom in jeopardy?