Nathan Benefield
Senior Vice President
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 senior vice president, 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
Shapiro Lost the Veepstakes–and He Only Has Himself to Blame
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Earlier this month, all signs pointed to Gov. Josh Shapiro joining Vice President Kamala Harris on the Democratic presidential ticket. After all, Shapiro sits atop…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro Lost the Veepstakes–and He Only Has Himself to BlameEducation
Taxpayers and students lose with Pennsylvania’s new budget
Originally published at The Patriot-News Pundits and reporters have rushed to identify the “winners and losers” of Pennsylvania’s newly signed budget. Obvious winners include Gov. Josh…
Media Hit
Read More: Taxpayers and students lose with Pennsylvania’s new budgetEducation
Pennsylvania’s Budgetary Déjà Vu
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania’s budget battle feels oddly familiar – like we’ve been here before. Our sense of déjà vu is valid: The 2024–25 fiscal battle looks strikingly…
Media Hit
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Pennsylvania’s Senate has answered Gov. Shapiro’s challenge
Originally published at The Patriot-News Following his budget address in February, Gov. Josh Shapiro challenged critics, saying, “If you don’t like my plan, show me yours.” Last week,…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Senate has answered Gov. Shapiro’s challengeEducation
Voters Aren’t Buying What Shapiro Is Selling
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania As inflation persists, Pennsylvania voters are rejecting increased government spending, according to new polling data released by the Commonwealth Foundation. Inflation and the rising cost of…
Media Hit
Read More: Voters Aren’t Buying What Shapiro Is SellingEducation
Don’t ignore the destructive ideas coming out of Harrisburg
Originally published at Broad + Liberty It’s a presidential election year, with voters riveted on national politics and issues. Inflation — caused by federal deficit spending — and immigration consistently…
Media Hit
Read More: Don’t ignore the destructive ideas coming out of HarrisburgEducation
Nate Benefield on The Dawn Stensland Show: Common Ground Poll Breakdown
The juxtaposition between the lack of support for Shapiro’s budget proposal (29%) and the massive support for his unfulfilled campaign promises—like Lifeline Scholarships (77%), lowering the business tax rate (81%),…
Media Hit
Read More: Nate Benefield on The Dawn Stensland Show: Common Ground Poll BreakdownEducation
Governor’s campaign slogans won’t fix Pa.
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Though elected in 2022, Gov. Josh Shapiro remains stuck in campaign mode, offering one empty platitude after another while avoiding the hard work…
Media Hit
Read More: Governor’s campaign slogans won’t fix Pa.State Budget
‘Shrinkflation’ ignores the true problem: deficit spending
Originally published at the Allentown Morning Call President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey deflect blame for high inflation away from the true cause: their own policies. They…
Media Hit
Read More: ‘Shrinkflation’ ignores the true problem: deficit spendingState Budget
Transit Bailout Could Derail Shapiro’s Budget
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro thinks mass transit is too big to fail. In his recent budget address, Shapiro pitched sending roughly $300 million…
Media Hit
Read More: Transit Bailout Could Derail Shapiro’s BudgetEducation
Gov. Shapiro’s budget shoves Pennsylvania in the wrong direction
Originally published at The Patriot-News Pennsylvania’s population is shrinking as working-age families move away to other states. State policymakers’ most important challenge is how to make our commonwealth…
Media Hit
Read More: Gov. Shapiro’s budget shoves Pennsylvania in the wrong directionEducation
Key Takeaways from Governor’s 2024 Budget Proposal
Key Points Gov. Josh Shapiro’s startling spending increases and myriad of new initiatives would explode the budget deficit and invite massive tax hikes on working families in the coming years.
Backgrounder
Read More: Key Takeaways from Governor’s 2024 Budget ProposalEducation
Shapiro’s Budget Better Be “Competitive as Hell”
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro likes to brag about being “competitive as hell.” Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is losing—and I’m not talking about football. U.S. News &…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro’s Budget Better Be “Competitive as Hell”Education
More state dollars won’t create better scholars
Originally published at LNP Earlier this month, the Basic Education Funding Commission released its long-overdue recommendations regarding Pennsylvania’s fair funding formula for public schools. Unfortunately, the recommendations from the…
Media Hit
Read More: More state dollars won’t create better scholarsEnergy
Gov. Shapiro wants unilateral power to commit the state to climate agreements
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette During a recent black-tie affair in a Manhattan ballroom, Gov. Josh Shapiro encouraged Pennsylvania lawmakers to embrace bipartisanship. “It doesn’t just last a weekend,…
Media Hit
Read More: Gov. Shapiro wants unilateral power to commit the state to climate agreementsProsperity
Conservative Donors Failed to Show Up in the 2023 Elections
Originally published in the Wall Street Journal Once critics of the supposedly malign influence of money in politics, the progressive left proved to be big spenders in November’s elections.
Media Hit
Read More: Conservative Donors Failed to Show Up in the 2023 ElectionsEnergy
Commonwealth Foundation Sr. VP Nathan Benefield on The Rich Zeoli Show November 2, 2023
Commonwealth Foundation Sr. Vice President Nathan Benefield joined The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss a Pennsylvania appellate court’s decision to prevent the state’s entrance into the Regional Green House Gas…
Media Hit
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Sr. VP Nathan Benefield on The Rich Zeoli Show November 2, 2023Public Union Democracy
Union Pandering Disguised as Railway Safety
Originally published at RealClearPolicy More workers have gone on strike in the first nine months of 2023 than in all of 2022. Philadelphia alone saw strikes at Temple University, Rutgers University,…
Media Hit
Read More: Union Pandering Disguised as Railway SafetyEducation
Shapiro Must Reset His Legislative Strategy
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The recent sexual harassment scandal rocking Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration has made many headlines. And though Shapiro must take these accusations seriously, there could be a…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro Must Reset His Legislative StrategyGovernment Accountability
Shapiro’s ‘Voter Registration’ Change Just Another Photo Op
Originally published in The American Spectator Earlier this month, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced, with great fanfare, that he is implementing “automatic voter registration” in the Keystone State.
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro’s ‘Voter Registration’ Change Just Another Photo OpEducation
Pennsylvanians Deserve the Truth on Education Spending
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania’s Basic Education Funding Commission has begun holding hearings on how to remake the state’s public schools funding formula after a state court determined that the existing…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvanians Deserve the Truth on Education Spending