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.”
Education
Flunked Trailer
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 TrailerTaxes & Economy
Did Dwight Schrute write Paulson’s speech before Congress?
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
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 governmentTaxes & Economy
Post-Gazette defends mass transit monopolies
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 monopoliesTaxes & Economy
More on the Proposed Bailout
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 BailoutEducation
Pittsburgh Schools: we can’t teach so give them better grades
The Pittsburgh Schools established a new policy that sets 50% as minimum score. (HT Grassroots PA). That is, if you missed all the questions on the test, you…
Media
Read More: Pittsburgh Schools: we can’t teach so give them better gradesGovernment Accountability
Bonus Ban(s) pass House State Government
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 GovernmentState Budget
Check out Pork Parade
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 ParadeTaxes & Economy
Rendell not to blame for sagging PA economy
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 economyTaxes & Economy
Thoughts on the bailout plan
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 planPublic Union Democracy
More Union Dues spent on Politics
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 PoliticsTaxes & Economy
The Worst Energy Ideas of 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 2008Taxes & Economy
Supporters Argue for Turnpike Lease
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 LeaseTaxes & Economy
Are lower taxes unpatriotic?
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…
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Read More: Are lower taxes unpatriotic?Government Accountability
Election Protection – The Nation’s Largest Nonpartisan Voter Protection Coalition (Draft)
Election Protection – The Nation’s Largest Nonpartisan Voter Protection Coalition…
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Read More: Election Protection – The Nation’s Largest Nonpartisan Voter Protection Coalition (Draft)Government Accountability
Follow the Commonwealth Foundation on Twitter
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 TwitterGovernment Accountability
Discharge resolution on bonus ban bill
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 billPublic Union Democracy
AFSCME opposes unlimited government?!?
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
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 neededState Budget
Rendell orders budget cuts, hiring freeze
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 freezeTaxes & Economy
Turnpike Lease Back On The Table
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).
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Read More: Turnpike Lease Back On The Table