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.”
Energy
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 WorkersEducation
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 PriceEducation
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 ProgressGovernment Accountability
Gov. Shapiro’s Call for Civility Rings Hollow Amid His Own Partisan Attacks
Originally published by PennLive. Last week, Gov. Josh Shapiro offered remarks to a conference, condemning all forms of political violence—everything from the…
Media Hit
Read More: Gov. Shapiro’s Call for Civility Rings Hollow Amid His Own Partisan AttacksState Budget
Governor Shapiro is Doing Everything but Governing
Originally published by The Pottstown-Mercury. Gov. Josh Shapiro is the only governor in America operating without an enacted or temporary state budget. But you wouldn’t know it from his recent…
Media Hit
Read More: Governor Shapiro is Doing Everything but GoverningState Budget
The One Big Beautiful Bill Should Show Pennsylvania How to Get Stuff Done
Originally published in PennLive. Entering the second months of Pennsylvania’s state budget impasse, Gov. Josh Shapiro and his political machine are desperate to deflect mounting scrutiny. Instead of…
Media Hit
Read More: The One Big Beautiful Bill Should Show Pennsylvania How to Get Stuff DoneRegulation
Pennsylvania Can Learn from Ohio and West Virginia
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Over the last decade, Pennsylvania has lost population and businesses to more competitive states. But this outmigration offers clues on how Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Can Learn from Ohio and West VirginiaEducation
Don’t Let Randi Weingarten Fool You: Government Unions Are in lockstep with Democrats
Originally published by Bucks County Independence. Are government union leaders and the Democratic Party about to divorce? Two prominent union leaders — Randi Weingarten of…
Media Hit
Read More: Don’t Let Randi Weingarten Fool You: Government Unions Are in lockstep with DemocratsEducation
The Hypocrisy of the ‘No Kings’ Protests
Originally published by Delaware Valley Journal. This past week, left-wing advocacy groups organized nationwide protests under the banner “No Kings,” opposing President Donald Trump. Let’s be real: These protests aren’t…
Media Hit
Read More: The Hypocrisy of the ‘No Kings’ ProtestsGovernment Accountability
A SEPTA Bailout Is as Predictable as It Is Irresponsible
Originally published by Penn Live. We hate to say, “We told you so.” But when it comes to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) demanding another state bailout, we told…
Media Hit
Read More: A SEPTA Bailout Is as Predictable as It Is IrresponsibleRegulation
Bring Domestic Steel Manufacturing Into America’s Golden Age
Originally published by Broad + Liberty. If there is to be a new Golden Age for American industry and manufacturing, Pennsylvania will play a leading role. In recent years, a…
Media Hit
Read More: Bring Domestic Steel Manufacturing Into America’s Golden Age