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.”
Health Care
Obamacare Failing Big Time
According to John Micek’s reading of a recent Gallup poll on health insurance, Obamacare is “working after all.” In reality, though, Gallup’s findings indicate that the health care overhaul…
Media
Read More: Obamacare Failing Big TimeRegulation
Liquor Privatization Reduces Operating Cost
Union leaders, copying from the same talking point memo, have repeated an identical falsehood about liquor store privatization. In two recent letters to the editor, I correct the record of…
Media
Read More: Liquor Privatization Reduces Operating Cost
Marcellus Shale Equals Economic Growth
Where there is Marcellus shale drilling there is economic growth. Over the past six years, Pennsylvania counties with Marcellus shale drilling saw the largest gains in economic growth. The most…
Media
Read More: Marcellus Shale Equals Economic GrowthTaxes & Economy
Former Pennsylvanians Voted with their Feet
Residents continued their exodus from Pennsylvania in 2014. The latest Census population estimates, released last month, show that Pennsylvania gained 5,913 in total population between July 2013 and July…
Media
Read More: Former Pennsylvanians Voted with their FeetPublic Union Democracy
PSEA Admits Using Dues for Politics
The Pennsylvania State Education Association admitted using union members’ dues, via a “SuperPAC,” to fund an election mailer supporting Governor-Elect Wolf, following a public apology last month for the mailer’s…
Media
Read More: PSEA Admits Using Dues for Politics
Mary’s Law: Protecting Teachers and Taxpayers
“Mary’s Law,” new legislation that will soon be introduced by State Senators John Eichelberger and Gene Yaw—along with 10 other senators—would end the taxpayer-funded collection of political money. Update:…
Media
Read More: Mary’s Law: Protecting Teachers and TaxpayersEducation
School Funding Reform & Weighted Student Funding
Thank you for the opportunity to offer testimony to this commission on the important topic of reforming how we distribute state funding for education. Our written testimony will focus on…
Testimony
Read More: School Funding Reform & Weighted Student Funding
A Real Conflict of Interest
Governor-elect Tom Wolf has recently made headlines for urging a gift ban, prohibiting executive branch officials from accepting gifts from lobbyists, and indicating he would end “no-bid” legal…
Media
Read More: A Real Conflict of InterestPublic Union Democracy
Why we Need Paycheck Protection Now
Today, Commonwealth Foundation released a new summary of election-related spending by Pennsylvania’s government unions. In 2014, the seven largest government unions in the state gave $7.3 million directly to…
Media
Read More: Why we Need Paycheck Protection NowTaxes & Economy
You’re Innocent, but Your House may be Guilty
A recent episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver highlights the problem of asset forfeiture, with specific references to the city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia has seized more than…
Media
Read More: You’re Innocent, but Your House may be GuiltyGovernment Accountability
Government Unions’ Political Spending Dwarfs Natural Gas
A rehashed report from Common Cause PA and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania assert that Marcellus Shale drillers spent $8 million on campaign contributions and $41 million on lobbying in…
Media
Read More: Government Unions’ Political Spending Dwarfs Natural GasTaxes & Economy
AP Story Errs on Wolf Spending Plan
A recent Associated Press story questions part of our analysis of Tom Wolf’s education spending and income tax proposals, specifically the notion that Mr. Wolf would have to double…
Media
Read More: AP Story Errs on Wolf Spending Plan
Election 2014: What are the Real Adult Issues?
Observers of the Pennsylvania governor’s race have been treated to a lot of adult-themed content in recent weeks, distracting from a discussion of the real policy differences between the candidates.
Commentary
Read More: Election 2014: What are the Real Adult Issues?Education
York Schools Can Send a Lifeline to Kids
The York City school board is considering an intriguing proposal to turn over some of its schools to a charter operator to compete with the remaining city schools (if the…
Media
Read More: York Schools Can Send a Lifeline to KidsState Budget
Immunizing Taxpayers from Chronic Overspending
Last week, two major bond rating agencies (Fitch and Standards & Poor’s) downgraded Pennsylvania’s debt rating citing poor fiscal health. While this should worry voters—taxpayers will be forced to pay…
Commentary
Read More: Immunizing Taxpayers from Chronic OverspendingRegulation
How Much are Pension Costs Affecting Schools?
My colleague Katrina has an op-ed in The Patriot-News today explaining the gravity of the state pension crisis and why action needs to happen now. As Katrina points out,…
Media
Read More: How Much are Pension Costs Affecting Schools?Education
Charter Schools Promote Segregation? Not So!
My letter to the editor in the Lehigh Valley Express Times refutes a claim that charter schools are promoting racial segregation: A recent article cites claims by…
Media
Read More: Charter Schools Promote Segregation? Not So!Health Care
Solving Health Care Without Obamacare Headaches
Montana’s Rib and Chop House in the Pittsburgh area is taking an innovative approach to providing health care coverage to employees, in spite of Obamacare. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports…
Media
Read More: Solving Health Care Without Obamacare HeadachesState Budget
Treasurer Finally Accepts that Fiscal Restraint is Needed
We at the Commonwealth Foundation are pleased to welcome State Treasurer Rob McCord to the fight for fiscal restraint. McCord, along with Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, held a press conference…
Media
Read More: Treasurer Finally Accepts that Fiscal Restraint is NeededEducation
Misconceptions Cloud School Funding Debate
Would you believe that nearly three-quarters of Pennsylvania’s voters underestimate how much money we spend on schools? Shocking but true, according to a new poll testing the public’s knowledge of…
Commentary
Read More: Misconceptions Cloud School Funding DebateEducation
School Reserves Offer Pension Reform Opportunity
Despite the rhetoric of “billions of dollars” in cuts from education, school districts across Pennsylvania have been able to increase their reserve funds. School districts had a combined reserve fund…
Media
Read More: School Reserves Offer Pension Reform Opportunity