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.”
Regulation
Government Job Creation is a Myth
Can government create jobs? If you ask Gov. Tom Wolf, you won’t get a straight answer. On the one hand, Wolf promised Amazon millions—likely billions—in taxpayer subsidies to build a…
Media
Read More: Government Job Creation is a Myth
Ignore Scare Tactics; ESAs Would Benefit All Students
On Tuesday, the Senate Education Committee advanced Senate Bill 2, which would create Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) for students in the lowest performing 15 percent of public schools. ESAs…
Media
Read More: Ignore Scare Tactics; ESAs Would Benefit All StudentsEducation
Time to Let Fair Funding Work
A recent Philadelphia Inquirer editorial on school funding gets it partly right, but partly wrong. They challenge the fact that Pennsylvania spends $3,800 more per student than the national…
Media
Read More: Time to Let Fair Funding WorkGovernment Accountability
Wolf’s “Citizens First” Reforms Won’t Solve Many Problems
Today, Gov. Wolf introduced a slew of “government reforms” to tackle Pennsylvania’s corruption problem. Here is our quick take on each. Gift Ban In theory, this seems like a…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s “Citizens First” Reforms Won’t Solve Many ProblemsState Budget
Five Things to Know about Gov. Wolf’s Proposed Budget
On February 6, Governor Wolf laid out his plan for the 2018-19 Pennsylvania state budget. Here are the five things you need to know: 1) Spending Increase Exceeds Taxpayer Protection Act…
Media
Read More: Five Things to Know about Gov. Wolf’s Proposed BudgetTaxes & Economy
PA Companies Raise Starting Wages After Tax Reform
Since the passage of federal tax reform, more than 300 companies have announced bonuses, raises, and new investments. This includes some major national companies, like Disney,…
Media
Read More: PA Companies Raise Starting Wages After Tax ReformEducation
PA Schools Spend Far Above National Average
Pennsylvania ranks 9th in the country for per-student funding of public schools. School districts in the commonwealth receive, overall, $3,700 more per student than the national average. This data comes…
Media
Read More: PA Schools Spend Far Above National AverageTaxes & Economy
Residents Still Moving out of PA, So Will Congressional Districts
Overlooked in yesterday’s news about the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordering a new Congressional district map was the fact that—regardless of the outcome of that case—Pennsylvania will likely lose a congressional…
Media
Read More: Residents Still Moving out of PA, So Will Congressional DistrictsTaxes & Economy
PA Taxpayers Are Moving to Almost Every Other State
Where are Pennsylvanians moving? Turns out, 44 states gained taxpayers from Pennsylvania last year. New data released yesterday by the IRS on state-to-state migration showed Pennsylvania gained residents moving from New…
Media
Read More: PA Taxpayers Are Moving to Almost Every Other State
Liquor Store Loan? Don’t Bank on It
Have your trips to the liquor store been leaving your wallet a little lighter? That’s because the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, the agency behind our state-run liquor system, recently raised…
Commentary
Read More: Liquor Store Loan? Don’t Bank on ItTaxes & Economy
Wolf Tax Reform Hypocrisy
Gov. Wolf has criticized recent federal tax reform proposals—which would lower most tax rates and simplify the tax code by reducing loopholes—because it would eliminate the state and local…
Media
Read More: Wolf Tax Reform HypocrisyHealth Care
Obamacare Creates Another Round of Premium Hikes
Governor Wolf announced exchange insurance premiums will increase by 30 percent next year thanks to President Trump and Congress. The problem is insurance rates have increased every year under…
Media
Read More: Obamacare Creates Another Round of Premium HikesRegulation
How Should Pennsylvania Attract Amazon?
Amazon has been dominating Pennsylvania business news since announcing its interest in creating a second U.S. headquarters (HQ2). Several regions of the state are expected to contend for this new…
Media
Read More: How Should Pennsylvania Attract Amazon?Regulation
Liquor Store Loan? Don’t Bank on It
Gov. Wolf’s plan to borrow more than $1 billion against PLCB revenue to balance the budget makes little sense. Under Wolf’s plan to “monetize” our liquor system, the state’s General…
Commentary
Read More: Liquor Store Loan? Don’t Bank on ItState Budget
Fact Check: Did the budget deal include an agreement to raise taxes?
Gov. Wolf has angrily accused the House of refusing to pass a tax increase, implying it was agreed to when the spending plan passed on June 30. But a check…
Media
Read More: Fact Check: Did the budget deal include an agreement to raise taxes?State Budget
Four Alternatives to the Warehouse Tax
The latest tax proposal to balance the $2.2 billion budget shortfall is receiving a cool reception. The tax hike under consideration would extend the sales tax to commercial warehouses. The…
Media
Read More: Four Alternatives to the Warehouse TaxState Budget
What’s Next for the 2017-18 Budget?
What does the Senate's vote to non-concur mean? How does a conference committee work? How does the credit downgrade affect the budget? Negotiations over the 2017-18 budget have raised interesting…
Memo
Read More: What’s Next for the 2017-18 Budget?
Follow Our Lead
Those seeking a return to fiscal sanity should take heart: Significant reforms are advancing at the state level that could spur a bottom-up course correction across the country—and Pennsylvania is…
Commentary
Read More: Follow Our LeadRegulation
We’ll Take Taxpayers’ $17 Million Subsidy & Move to China, Suckers
The Tribune Review reports that another Pennsylvania company is moving to China. A company that built saltwater-based battery systems at the former Sony Corp. plant near New Stanton will move to…
Media
Read More: We’ll Take Taxpayers’ $17 Million Subsidy & Move to China, SuckersState Budget
More Budget Scare Tactics
Gov. Wolf announced on Friday that he will delay $1.7 billion in payments to Medicaid providers (for a week) and to the public school employees' pension fund. The governor cited the General…
Media
Read More: More Budget Scare TacticsState Budget
Debunking the Claims of Gov. Wolf and His Special Interest Allies
A few misconceptions surrounding the House Republicans’ plan to balance the budget need to be corrected. First, the plan would redirect just 14 percent of the $9.3 billion…
Media
Read More: Debunking the Claims of Gov. Wolf and His Special Interest Allies