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
More Choices, Brighter Futures: Expanding Educational Freedom
Testimony of Nathan Benefield, Chief Policy OfficerCommonwealth FoundationU.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce“More Choices, Brighter Futures: Expanding Educational Freedom”October 23, 2026 Chairman Walberg and members of the…
Testimony
Read More: More Choices, Brighter Futures: Expanding Educational FreedomState Budget
Don’t Believe Shapiro’s Budget Claims
Originally published by The Center Square. Gov. Josh Shapiro recently defended his fiscal record. During Pennsylvania’s one and only gubernatorial debate, the governor insisted that (1)…
Media Hit
Read More: Don’t Believe Shapiro’s Budget ClaimsGovernment Accountability
No Kings? Then Oppose Government Overreach in Pennsylvania, Too
Originally published by The Mercury. Thousands of protesters will take to the streets on Oct. 17 under the banner of “No Kings,” warning against unchecked…
Media Hit
Read More: No Kings? Then Oppose Government Overreach in Pennsylvania, TooGovernment Accountability
State’s Proposed Health Regulation Changes Would Allow Unchecked Power
Originally published by LNP/Lancaster Online. LNP | LancasterOnline’s Sept. 19 editorial, “Proposed state Health Department rules on infectious diseases shouldn’t be partisan…
Media Hit
Read More: State’s Proposed Health Regulation Changes Would Allow Unchecked PowerRegulation
Josh Shapiro Gets Stuff Undone
Originally published by the Washington Examiner. Gov. Josh Shapiro built his brand on GSD: getting stuff done. But these days, he seems more…
Media Hit
Read More: Josh Shapiro Gets Stuff UndoneWelfare
Medicaid Fraud Demands Prevention, not Just Prosecution
Originally published by PennLive. What would you do if someone told you they worked 36 hours per day? If you were the Pennsylvania Department of…
Media Hit
Read More: Medicaid Fraud Demands Prevention, not Just ProsecutionRegulation
Government Intervention—not Free Markets—Made Your Housing and Healthcare Unaffordable
Originally published by PennLive. Are socialists having their moment? Recent elections and polling suggest Democrats are increasingly favorable toward socialism. Sort of. When…
Media Hit
Read More: Government Intervention—not Free Markets—Made Your Housing and Healthcare UnaffordableState Budget
What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 State Budget Deal
Summary Pennsylvania’s 2026–27 state budget deal is an improvement over Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reckless proposal, but it still spends too much and leaves taxpayers facing an even larger long-term structural…
Backgrounder
Read More: What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 State Budget DealEnergy
Government Policies, Not Power Companies, Drive Rising Electricity Costs
Originally published by TribLIVE. Gov. Josh Shapiro is trying to deflect blame for high energy prices, blaming “corporate greed” and pointing fingers at everyone but the true…
Media Hit
Read More: Government Policies, Not Power Companies, Drive Rising Electricity CostsEducation
Philly Schools Don’t Need More Money…
Originally published by The Philadelphia Citizen. A majority of the Philadelphia students receiving diplomas cannot read or do math at grade level. In 2025, …
Media Hit
Read More: Philly Schools Don’t Need More Money…
Radical Tax Hikes Will Accelerate PA’s Outmigration
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Gov. Josh Shapiro keeps repeating the claim that Pennsylvania is the only growing state in the Northeast. But that’s not true. Residents…
Media Hit
Read More: Radical Tax Hikes Will Accelerate PA’s OutmigrationState Budget
Shapiro’s “Affordability” Agenda Has a $7 Billion Problem
Originally published in The Mercury. Gov. Josh Shapiro wants Pennsylvanians to believe that he is delivering affordability. But his unaffordable budget tells a different story. The…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro’s “Affordability” Agenda Has a $7 Billion ProblemState Budget
Yes, Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Raises Taxes
Originally published by PennLive. In his campaign-style budget address, Gov. Josh Shapiro claimed his budget neither enacts any new taxes nor requires future tax…
Media Hit
Read More: Yes, Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Raises TaxesEducation
[MEDIA] Nathan Benefield Talks Education Spending on ‘Erie News Now’
Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed record-high education funding in his 2026 budget address. The entire proposal, totaling $53.26 billion, would force a $2,100 tax hike on families of four. Nathan…
Media
Read More: [MEDIA] Nathan Benefield Talks Education Spending on ‘Erie News Now’Health Care
Obamacare Did Not Lower Costs. It Is Time for a Better Approach.
Originally published in RealClearPennsylvania. After more than a decade dealing with the so-called Affordable Care Act (aka “Obamacare”), Americans are still struggling with rising health care…
Media Hit
Read More: Obamacare Did Not Lower Costs. It Is Time for a Better Approach.State Budget
Pennsylvania is Shrinking. We Need More Workers
Originally published by The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. New migration reports show that last year more people moved out of Pennsylvania than moved in, marking the commonwealth’s…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania is Shrinking. We Need More WorkersState Budget
Governor Shapiro’s Reckless 2026–27 Budget Proposal
Overview Gov. Josh Shapiro’s unaffordable budget worsens Pennsylvania’s structural deficit. The governor proposes nearly $53.26 billion in general fund spending, a 6.3 percent increase over the 2025–26 enacted budget. He…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Reckless 2026–27 Budget ProposalState Budget
Shapiro Talks Affordability, but Pennsylvanians Pay the Price
Originally published by The Pottstown-Mercury. Gov. Josh Shapiro has made a habit of criticizing President Donald Trump over rising prices and “affordability.” Yet under Shapiro’s leadership,…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro Talks Affordability, but Pennsylvanians Pay the PriceTaxes & Economy
What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 State Budget
Summary Four months late, Gov. Josh Shapiro and state lawmakers agreed on a state budget deal. The agreement spends $1.4 billion less than Shapiro’s reckless, extreme proposal, and uses excessive…
Backgrounder
Read More: What You Need to Know About Pennsylvania’s 2025-26 State BudgetEducation
“Groundbreaking Academic Improvements” in Philly Schools? Hardly!
Originally published by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Imagine a hospital with a 17% survival rate. Would you be willing to listen to the hospital’s CEO brag about…
Media Hit
Read More: “Groundbreaking Academic Improvements” in Philly Schools? Hardly!Regulation
Shapiro’s Policies Will Sink PA’s Economic Progress
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. A recent Politico article highlights a New Jersey candidate touting Pennsylvania as a better model for the Garden State. Meanwhile, a left-leaning economist’s …
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro’s Policies Will Sink PA’s Economic Progress