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.”
Double-Down on Reinventing Government
What's different about Wolf's third budget address? Record-setting income and sales tax increases? Gone. Partisan rhetoric? Mollified. Massive spending hikes? Absent. Instead, Wolf targeted bureaucratic waste to close the ever-widening…
Commentary
Read More: Double-Down on Reinventing GovernmentGovernment Accountability
Senate Moves Key Transparency Measures
Today the Senate's State Government Committee advanced three bills to open up government collective bargaining negotiations to the public. SB 168, sponsored by Sen. Pat Stefano, would require all levels of government…
Media
Read More: Senate Moves Key Transparency Measures
When a Spending Increase Is a Massive Cut
Last June, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a $31.53 billion General Fund budget. In February, Gov. Wolf proposed a $32.34 billion budget. This $800 million increase has actually been labeled “…
Media
Read More: When a Spending Increase Is a Massive CutEducation
The Cost of Pennsylvania’s Pension Crisis
In recent Appropriation Committee hearings, Pennsylvania’s two statewide pension funds (PSERS and SERS) reported $62.2 billion in unfunded liabilities (or debt) that taxpayers must pay. This number—which assumes…
Media
Read More: The Cost of Pennsylvania’s Pension CrisisHealthcare
Obamacare: Say No to Status Quo
A recent WSJ/NBC poll shows almost everyone supports reforming Obamacare. Only 4% think Obamacare is working well as is. A majority (52%) think it needs a major overhaul or…
Media
Read More: Obamacare: Say No to Status QuoHealthcare
Double-Down on Reinventing Government
Imagine if Stephen King had written Green Eggs and Ham. What if Dr. Seuss had penned The Shining? Gov. Wolf’s third budget address was an equally disorienting shift in tone…
Media
Read More: Double-Down on Reinventing GovernmentRegulation
Employee Compensation Drives Spending Growth
PennLive released a list of state government employees earning more than $100,000 in salary today. While the list should open some eyes, it doesn’t capture the full cost of…
Media
Read More: Employee Compensation Drives Spending GrowthState Budget
Five Takeaways From the Governors Budget Proposal
This morning Governor Wolf laid out his plan for the 2017-18 state budget. Here are the five things you need to know: 1. Shift to redesigning government. This is a…
Media
Read More: Five Takeaways From the Governors Budget ProposalPublic Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection Passes Senate Committee
The Senate State Government Committee today passed paycheck protection, which ends the special privilege that lets government union leaders use public resources to collect money earmarked for politics. Since…
Media
Read More: Paycheck Protection Passes Senate CommitteeState Budget
An Early Christmas Present from Gov. Wolf
Yesterday, Gov. Tom Wolf indicated he would not propose an income tax or a sales tax increase as part of his next budget. This comes as something of…
Media
Read More: An Early Christmas Present from Gov. WolfRegulation
Who Pays for SEPTA?
News reports today indicate SEPTA (the public transit agency serving the Philadelphia region) came to an agreement with the Transportation Workers Union Local 234—ending a six-day strike just before election…
Media
Read More: Who Pays for SEPTA?Education
APSCUF Threatens Faculty
This morning, APSCUF, the union representing 5,000 faculty at the State System of Higher Education schools, went on strike. As we pointed out a few weeks ago, one…
Media
Read More: APSCUF Threatens FacultyEducation
Testimony: Role of Charter Schools in Education
Testimony
Read More: Testimony: Role of Charter Schools in EducationGovernment Accountability
New Labor Contracts Will Add to Taxpayers’ Burden
New union contracts will make state government more expensive, according to two analyses released by the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO). The IFO projects contracts negotiated by the Wolf Administration…
Media
Read More: New Labor Contracts Will Add to Taxpayers’ BurdenEducation
Flawed Arguments Drive School Funding Suit
As I pointed out earlier this week, Pennsylvania public school spending is at an all-time high. In fact, the state's per student spending is significantly above the national average. James’ analysis…
Media
Read More: Flawed Arguments Drive School Funding SuitEducation
Facts about the State Share of School Funding
Should the Pennsylvania Supreme Court order the Legislature to give billions more dollars to school districts? That's what a recent lawsuit demands. But to make their case to the public, the lawsuit's advocates…
Media
Read More: Facts about the State Share of School FundingEducation
Faculty Benefits Driving Up Tuition Costs
APSCUF—the union representing faculty at state-owned universities—has begun a vote to authorize a strike. One of APSCUF's complaints with the proposed contract is higher health care expenses. In…
Media
Read More: Faculty Benefits Driving Up Tuition CostsEducation
Education Choice Benefits All
Private school choice programs benefit students, public schools, and taxpayers, according to new report from EdChoice. The report, the fourth edition of A Win-Win Solution: The Empirical Evidence on…
Media
Read More: Education Choice Benefits All
Wolf Legally Required to Reduce Spending
Gov. Wolf has a legal responsibility to reduce spending and fix a legislative mistake. Unless the legislature passes a revenue bill today—which seems unlikely—the state budget is unbalanced. Lawmakers sent…
Media
Read More: Wolf Legally Required to Reduce SpendingState Budget
Back to the Future: Budget Edition
Doc Brown showed up at Commonwealth Foundation headquarters in his DeLorean yesterday with a stern warning about the future. “I just returned from 2017! You’ve got to come back with…
Media
Read More: Back to the Future: Budget EditionRegulation
‘Spend-first, Tax-later’ is Flawed Budgeting
As it stands, this budget leaves families trapped in a game of tax roulette—praying their taxes don’t go up this year. Next year, let’s hope taxpayers don’t have to choose…
Commentary
Read More: ‘Spend-first, Tax-later’ is Flawed Budgeting