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.”

Taxes & Economy

Turnpike lease would be model for investing in infrastructure

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 3, 2008

Patriot News editorial notes that the proposed Turnpike lease deal would make PA a model for the nation. It’s not that the public-private partnership concept being pushed…

Media

Read More: Turnpike lease would be model for investing in infrastructure

Taxes & Economy

Offshore drilling to being on October 1?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 3, 2008

A Heritage Foundation webmemo articulates the fact that all Congress needs to do allow offshore drilling is not extend the moratorium – set to expire on Sept. 30.  They…

Media

Read More: Offshore drilling to being on October 1?

Regulation

Corporate Welfare 101

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 2, 2008

Philadelphia Inquirer story on how the Lancaster Convention Center project has spun out of control – with dramatic cost increases (from an initial $30 million to over $100 million),…

Media

Read More: Corporate Welfare 101

Taxes & Economy

Can the Feds Save the Housing Market?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 2, 2008

He is a good read from The Freeman offering a primer on how the US housing market came to be in such bad shape, and why federal bailouts is…

Media

Read More: Can the Feds Save the Housing Market?

Government Accountability

Push for reform coming up short

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 1, 2008

Here is one of the most disheartening articles I have read about reform in Harrisburg. (HT: Grassroots PA). Not only do some Pennsylvania lawmakers think that the…

Media

Read More: Push for reform coming up short

Taxes & Economy

PA ranks low among US and Canadian Labor Markets

  • Nathan Benefield
  • September 1, 2008

For Labor Day, the Fraser Institute has a new report on state and Canadian provinces labor markets. It may stun some in the Rendell administration, but not…

Media

Read More: PA ranks low among US and Canadian Labor Markets

Health Care

Conservatives should care about health care

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 31, 2008

Philip Klein has a must read article about why conservatives should care about health in the The American Spectator. He makes the case that it is not enough to…

Media

Read More: Conservatives should care about health care

Government Accountability

BonusGate update and questions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 31, 2008

The Democracy Rising PA Newsletter raises some interesting points about a pronouncement by Attorney General Tom Corbett that he wouldn’t make announcements about indictments leading up to Nov.

Media

Read More: BonusGate update and questions

Taxes & Economy

Turnpike Commission to owe $30 to $70 billion after Act 44

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2008

In our news release and media briefing yesterday, highlighting the patronage, power, and politics at the Turnpike Commission, we mention the exorbitant amount of debt the Turnpike Commission…

Media

Read More: Turnpike Commission to owe $30 to $70 billion after Act 44

Education

SAT Scores by State

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 28, 2008

EDITORS NOTE: Click here for the 2014 SAT Scores by state The College Board released their 2008 College Bound Seniors report which details SAT scores. Click here for a…

Media

Read More: SAT Scores by State

State Budget

Most Pennsylvania Congressmen fail rating of pork votes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 28, 2008

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste released their 2007 Congressional ratings, ranking members on their votes on pork-barrel spending. Among the Pennsylvania delegation, only Joe Pitts scores above…

Media

Read More: Most Pennsylvania Congressmen fail rating of pork votes

Taxes & Economy

Indiana has benefited from toll road lease

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 28, 2008

An anonymous comment on a recent post accused me of not mentioning the Indiana Toll Road deal because it was “not so good, a bad move”.  Of course, we…

Media

Read More: Indiana has benefited from toll road lease

Government Accountability

Thomas Jefferson: Blogger

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 27, 2008

While I thought we had the most influential blog around (or at least number 7), this Jefferson guy from Charlottesville seems to be quoted quite a bit.

Media

Read More: Thomas Jefferson: Blogger

Taxes & Economy

How Do You Define “American-Made”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 27, 2008

Mark Perry poses the question about how you define “American-made” cars.  Does it depend on where the car was assembled?  Where the corporate headquarters is?  What percentage of the…

Media

Read More: How Do You Define “American-Made”?

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania could become policy innovator with turnpike lease

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 26, 2008

The Wall Street Journal had a fairly lengthy cover story on the proposal to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Among the points addressed 1) Other states are looking to PA…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania could become policy innovator with turnpike lease

Taxes & Economy

Even The Mere Threat Of Drilling Will Bring Down The Price Of Oil

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 26, 2008

Don Chance has an editorial on IBDeditorials.com on how drilling now – or even threatening to – will reduce price of oil immediately. Essentially it encourages those storing oil…

Media

Read More: Even The Mere Threat Of Drilling Will Bring Down The Price Of Oil

Government Accountability

Should 18 year-olds be allowed to drink (legally)?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 26, 2008

A large group of college presidents have launched an initiative to lower the legal drinking age from 21 to18. Their argument is that 18 to 21 year…

Media

Read More: Should 18 year-olds be allowed to drink (legally)?

State Budget

He’s not Santa Claus

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2008

The Herald Standard has an editorial about all of Governor Rendell’s taxpayer-funded “gifts” to Pennsylvania. While they don’t claim that any of these expenditures are misguided (though we pull…

Media

Read More: He’s not Santa Claus

Education

The Competitive Impact of School Choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2008

A reader asks, in response to a post about a study show school choice in Ohio had a competitive benefit to public schools, Do you have…

Media

Read More: The Competitive Impact of School Choice

Government Accountability

16 days of work in six months may tire House

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 25, 2008

Eric Heyl, with a hint of sarcasm, suggests that the 16 days the PA House (and the 10 days for the PA Senate) is scheduled to be in session between July…

Media

Read More: 16 days of work in six months may tire House

Education

Is PHEAA reformable?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2008

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review questions whether PHEAA can be reformed, as the Auditor General suggests, given that the legislators who dominate the PHEAA board don’t think legislators should vote to…

Media

Read More: Is PHEAA reformable?