Nathan Benefield

Nathan Benefield

Chief Policy Officer

Nathan (Nate) Benefield is the Chief Policy Officer at the Commonwealth Foundation.

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.”

Education

Flunked Trailer

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 24, 2008

Flunked: The Movie is a documentary looking at the failure of our public schools, and success stories in public education.  Below is the trailer. We will be hosting a…

Media

Read More: Flunked Trailer

Taxes & Economy

Did Dwight Schrute write Paulson’s speech before Congress?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2008

Was Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s speech before Congress plagiarized?  It sounds a lot like this clip from The Office. Here is Dwight’s presentation, with Paulson’s edits: This…

Media

Read More: Did Dwight Schrute write Paulson’s speech before Congress?

Regulation

Financial “crisis” a failure of government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2008

While some pundits and media, such as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, point to the proposed bailout as demonstration of the failure of the free market, in fact it is a…

Media

Read More: Financial “crisis” a failure of government

Taxes & Economy

Post-Gazette defends mass transit monopolies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2008

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a nonsensical editorial opposing Mike Turzai and Mike Mustio’s legislation which would allow competition in mass transit in Pittsburgh. Currently the Port Authority of Allegheny…

Media

Read More: Post-Gazette defends mass transit monopolies

Taxes & Economy

More on the Proposed Bailout

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 23, 2008

More responses and info about the proposed federal bailout: Club for Growth Condemns Federal Bailout Reason: Assessing the $700 billion bailout NTU: Taxpayers are Sick…

Media

Read More: More on the Proposed Bailout

Government Accountability

Bonus Ban(s) pass House State Government

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 22, 2008

After numerous complaints about the lack of action on reform bills (including from yours truly) the House State Government committee today voted to send two “bonus ban” bills…

Media

Read More: Bonus Ban(s) pass House State Government

State Budget

Check out Pork Parade

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 22, 2008

Congressman Jeff Flake has a new website to expose Pork from Washington. To contribute to the discussion, you can twitter with the code #pork. Twitter users can also…

Media

Read More: Check out Pork Parade

Taxes & Economy

Rendell not to blame for sagging PA economy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 22, 2008

The lastest state job numbers indicate that Pennsylvania has 100,000 more unemployed persons that one year ago. Yet, Governor Rendell announces that this is due to national trends -his…

Media

Read More: Rendell not to blame for sagging PA economy

Taxes & Economy

Thoughts on the bailout plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 22, 2008

Heritage Foundation has a Webmemo on the federal plans to bail out the mortgage market, along with a list of recommendations. You can get the legislation…

Media

Read More: Thoughts on the bailout plan

Public Union Democracy

More Union Dues spent on Politics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 19, 2008

The Union Label blog writes on how AFSCME (the union for government workers) is using union dues to attack candidates for office (see USA Today story as well).

Media

Read More: More Union Dues spent on Politics

Taxes & Economy

The Worst Energy Ideas of 2008

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 19, 2008

The American Magazine has an article on the worst energy ideas, including: “energy independence,” and “green jobs”. On that front, Pete DuPont has a WSJ column on the…

Media

Read More: The Worst Energy Ideas of 2008

Taxes & Economy

Supporters Argue for Turnpike Lease

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 18, 2008

ABC 27 News story on the Turnpike Lease, featuring the motley crew of supporters: Matt Brouillette, Gov. Ed Rendell,  Howard Yerusalim (former PennDOT Secretary under Bob Casey) and Rep.Dan…

Media

Read More: Supporters Argue for Turnpike Lease

Taxes & Economy

Are lower taxes unpatriotic?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 18, 2008

Alex Charyna from PA Watercooler told me we are being unpatriotic. Why? While we are calling for budgetary measures to avoid higher taxes, Joe Biden is telling us…

Media

Read More: Are lower taxes unpatriotic?

Government Accountability

Follow the Commonwealth Foundation on Twitter

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 18, 2008

The Commonwealth Foundation is now on Twitter. If you Twitter, or thinking of signing up to show how young and hip you are (do the young and hip still…

Media

Read More: Follow the Commonwealth Foundation on Twitter

Government Accountability

Discharge resolution on bonus ban bill

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 17, 2008

Representative Brad Roae sends us this regarding his discharge resolution for SB 986, the “Bonus Ban” “On Monday I turned in a Discharge Resolution to pull the bill…

Media

Read More: Discharge resolution on bonus ban bill

Public Union Democracy

AFSCME opposes unlimited government?!?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 17, 2008

Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (which runs 14 state universities, but not the “state-related” schools like Penn State and Pitt), banned all smoking on campus, both indoor and…

Media

Read More: AFSCME opposes unlimited government?!?

Government Accountability

Why a special session on reform is needed

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 17, 2008

During a press conference calling on Cerberus and the House Democrats to pass a number of reform bills already passed unanimously by the Senate, contending that a special…

Media

Read More: Why a special session on reform is needed

State Budget

Rendell orders budget cuts, hiring freeze

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 16, 2008

Following reports that tax revenue is well behind projections, Governor Rendell has announced plans to reduce state spending by $200 million, including ending (taxpayer funded) out-of-state travel by…

Media

Read More: Rendell orders budget cuts, hiring freeze

Taxes & Economy

Turnpike Lease Back On The Table

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 16, 2008

The Philadelphia Bulletin has an article on the Turnpike lease facing real consideration now; the Daily Collegian and the Daily Item have similar pieces (HT GrassrootsPA).

Media

Read More: Turnpike Lease Back On The Table