Nathan Benefield

Nathan Benefield

Senior Vice President

Nathan (Nate) Benefield is the Senior Vice President 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 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.”

Regulation

Use School Reserves to Fund Pensions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 28, 2014

In 2013, Pennsylvania school districts increased their reserve funds by $445 million—to a total approaching $4 billion as of June 30, 2013—according to the latest data from…

Media

Read More: Use School Reserves to Fund Pensions

Public Union Democracy

Government Union CEOs Make Their Own Rules

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 15, 2014

When questioned about why he failed to register as a lobbyist, UFCW president Wendell Young IV excused himself with a special exemption from the law that doesn’t exist. He told…

Media

Read More: Government Union CEOs Make Their Own Rules

Education

Ignoring Pension Costs Won’t Work

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 13, 2014

We’ve mentioned before the big lie of “$1 billion cut from education.”  Part of the reason that lie continues is that union executives ignore a big chunk of education…

Media

Read More: Ignoring Pension Costs Won’t Work

Public Union Democracy

Top 5 Reasons We Need a Paycheck Protection Law

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 12, 2014

Occasionally I get asked why we need a state law preventing taxpayer resources from being used to collect union political money (“paycheck protection“), when local government can choose to…

Media

Read More: Top 5 Reasons We Need a Paycheck Protection Law

Education

School Spending is the Issue

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 9, 2014

My letter to the editor in yesterday’s York Daily Record addresses some inaccuracies about education spending in Pennsylvania. Your editorial on education funding (“Funding formula a good…

Media

Read More: School Spending is the Issue

State Budget

Tax Cuts To Blame for Pennsylvania’s Budget Deficit?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 30, 2014

As we have pointed out in the past, Pennsylvania’s legacy of overspending has created a looming deficit, threatening to destroy our fiscal house. Yet, some lawmakers and public officials…

Media

Read More: Tax Cuts To Blame for Pennsylvania’s Budget Deficit?

State Budget

S&P Worried About Pennsylvania’s Overspending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 25, 2014

Standard & Poor’s is sounding the alarm, once again, on Pennsylvania’s record of overspending. A new S&P report singles out the commonwealth for not putting our fiscal house in order,…

Media

Read More: S&P Worried About Pennsylvania’s Overspending

Government Accountability

Government Unions’ Political Power Grows

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 11, 2014

Despite claims that union dues aren’t used for politics, the amount Pennsylvania’s five largest government unions reported spending from union dues on “political activities and lobbying” increased in…

Media

Read More: Government Unions’ Political Power Grows

Taxes & Economy

Taxes Not Popular in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 10, 2014

Shocker! (Not really). A new Gallup poll finds that the majority of Pennsylvanians—58 percent—think state taxes are too high. Pennsylvania’s polling falls right in line based on our tax…

Media

Read More: Taxes Not Popular in Pennsylvania

Public Union Democracy

Super PACs Supersize Union Political Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 8, 2014

Super PACs are elbowing into state elections, promising to supersize the already dominating role unions play in electoral politics. Effectively, Super PACs can collect and spend an unlimited amount of…

Commentary

Read More: Super PACs Supersize Union Political Spending

Public Union Democracy

Are Teachers’ Union Dues Used for Politics?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 31, 2014

Did you see the PSEA’s latest Voice magazine? It features a full two-page article, claiming, among other things, that “no dues money is given to candidates.” This is true…

Media

Read More: Are Teachers’ Union Dues Used for Politics?

Education

Playing the Education Lottery

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 31, 2014

Last month, families from across Pennsylvania waited anxiously to hear if they had finally won the lottery. But these hopeful parents weren’t looking to win the MegaMillions—they were hoping for…

Commentary

Read More: Playing the Education Lottery

Education

Charter School Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 14, 2014

Good morning, my name is Nathan Benefield; I am the vice president of policy analysis for the Commonwealth Foundation. I wish to thank Auditor General DePasquale for the opportunity to…

Testimony

Read More: Charter School Reform

Public Union Democracy

Super PAC will Super Size Union Dues in Politics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 12, 2014

You may have read articles about a federal judge allowing a “Super PAC” to operate in Pennsylvania to attack Republicans. Effectively, Super PACs can collect and spend unlimited amounts…

Media

Read More: Super PAC will Super Size Union Dues in Politics

Government Accountability

State House to Tackle Union Violence

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 11, 2014

Federal charges of racketeering and arson against several Philadelphia union members, who called themselves The Helpful Union Guys (or T.H.U.G.s) has renewed interest in closing a loophole in…

Media

Read More: State House to Tackle Union Violence

Public Union Democracy

Union Dues Still Fund Politics & Union Members Don’t Like It

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 4, 2014

Last night, I spoke with ABC 27 about polling that shows the vast majority of union household support ending taxpayer collection of union political money. See the video…

Media

Read More: Union Dues Still Fund Politics & Union Members Don’t Like It

Education

The Berlin Wall of Philadelphia’s Public Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 27, 2014

Students in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh had their hopes dashed last week when they lost out on the chance to land one of the few vacant openings in charter schools. In…

Media

Read More: The Berlin Wall of Philadelphia’s Public Schools

Public Union Democracy

Unions Pouring Big Money in Pennsylvania Elections

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 27, 2014

As we’ve pointed out in the past, unions—often using campaign contributions collected at taxpayer expense—dominate political spending and electioneering. Well, the first campaign…

Media

Read More: Unions Pouring Big Money in Pennsylvania Elections

Education

Myth: PA Spends Less on Education

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 25, 2014

There are many myths circulating about how much Pennsylvania spends on public education. One such myth is that the state government used to provide 50 percent of all revenue for…

Media

Read More: Myth: PA Spends Less on Education

State Budget

Gov. Rendell Left Pennsylvania a Big Deficit

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 24, 2014

Recent headlines have former Gov. Ed Rendell challenging Gov. Tom Corbett on the issue of the deficit he left the current administration. Gov. Corbett has campaign ads stating he closed…

Media

Read More: Gov. Rendell Left Pennsylvania a Big Deficit

Public Union Democracy

Big Labor’s Billions Targeting PA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 20, 2014

Unions are spending millions on politics, and drumming up issues like a minimum wage increase, solely to win some elections, the New York Times reports today. Union leaders are…

Media

Read More: Big Labor’s Billions Targeting PA