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.”
Sound Ideas Transcend Party Labels
When Jane Janeczek, a lifelong Democrat and daughter of former Democratic governor George Leader, was elected Commonwealth Foundation board chair, some wondered how she came to embrace our policy solutions.
Media
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New Plan Doesn’t Protect Taxpayers from Pension Politics
Today, the House State Government Committee passed a pension reform bill featuring an unproven “stacked hybrid” plan. This proposal falls short of the pension reform taxpayers needs to protect…
Media
Read More: New Plan Doesn’t Protect Taxpayers from Pension PoliticsRegulation
Liquor Liberty Loophole for DNC
As Pennsylvania residents and visitors know quite well, our state's liquor laws are outdated. Pennsylvania remains one of only two states where the government completely controls the sale of wine and…
Media
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Gov. Wolf Threatens Veto, Denying Schools Flexibility they Want
Yesterday, James wrote about the passage of HB 805—legislation that would protect excellent teachers by using performance, not seniority, as the primary factor in furlough decisions. You can view the…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Threatens Veto, Denying Schools Flexibility they WantRegulation
Time to End Corporate Welfare Handouts
Conservatives loathe government handouts. Liberals denounce special favors to corporations. One thing can unify these two sides: ending Pennsylvania’s budget-busting corporate welfare handouts.
Commentary
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How Ridesharing Helps the Poor and Disabled
Earlier this week, I used Uber to get a ride in downtown Philadelphia. Curious, I asked my driver how long he’d been driving for Uber. “Two years,” he told me,…
Media
Read More: How Ridesharing Helps the Poor and DisabledEducation
Wolf’s Cockamamie Concoction
Matt Brouillette pointed out in his latest commentary that Gov. Wolf is taking a “lone-wolf” approach to governing. The latest example is his unilateral action to distribute school funding…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Cockamamie ConcoctionState Budget
Support for Wolf’s Hostage-Taking Is Breaking
Last week, Gov. Wolf indicated he plans to fully veto yet another budget. He said if schools face a “short term shutdown,” that could be “a good thing.” Now, he’s realizing…
Media
Read More: Support for Wolf’s Hostage-Taking Is BreakingState Budget
What Is Wolf’s Plan?
In his 2015 budget address, Gov. Wolf stated, “But if you don’t agree with my ideas, here is my request: please come with your own ideas. It’s not good enough…
Media
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Taxpayers on the Hook for Wolf’s Spending Binge
Despite the lack of a completed state budget, and no support for his unpopular tax hike proposals, Gov. Wolf continues to rack up additional costs for taxpayers: Wolf's…
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Poll: How Can Pennsylvania Beat Florida?
In the Wall Street Journal, Florida Governor Rick Scott makes a mockery of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and his quest to raise taxes, calling Wolf one of his “favorite governors.”…
Media
Read More: Poll: How Can Pennsylvania Beat Florida?Regulation
Why Did Wolf Veto PERC Funding?
Some positive news emerged last week, Gov. Wolf agreed—as part of a lawsuit filed by Rep. Steve Bloom and Rep. Seth Grove—to a temporary deal to keep the Public…
Media
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Governor Wolf’s Sixth Tax Hike Plan
As noted in previous posts, Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed tax hike totaling $2.7 billion over a full year—or $850 per family of four. About half of this increase…
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Read More: Governor Wolf’s Sixth Tax Hike PlanState Budget
Wolf’s Policies Send Pennsylvanians Packing
Last year, we lost one person to another state every 12.5 minutes—a net migration of 41,600 residents, gone. That’s nearly the entire population of York, Gov. Wolf’s hometown. Ironically, Wolf…
Commentary
Read More: Wolf’s Policies Send Pennsylvanians PackingState Budget
One-Third of Pennsylvanians Want to Move Away
Residents in states with high taxes to want to move out, according to a recent Gallup poll. This includes 33 percent of Pennsylvania residents. This shouldn't be a shocker—Pennsylvania families…
Media
Read More: One-Third of Pennsylvanians Want to Move AwayState Budget
Wolf Will Veto Prison Funding, Send the Money Anyway
In a bizarre news twist, Gov. Tom Wolf is threatening to veto a bill because…well, reasons. According to the AP: Democratic Governor Tom Wolf says he will veto…
Media
Read More: Wolf Will Veto Prison Funding, Send the Money AnywayState Budget
Five Facts about Wolf’s Second Budget Proposal
More of the same Wolf’s proposed budget mirrors what he offered—and lawmakers repeatedly rejected—last year: Massive tax hikes and record spending increases. It’s no surprise Wolf didn’t want to…
Media
Read More: Five Facts about Wolf’s Second Budget ProposalState Budget
A Brief History of Wolf’s Tax Hikes
In 2015, Gov. Tom Wolf proposed five broad-based tax hikes on working families—each of which was eventually rejected by state lawmakers. Here's some background on each of Gov. Wolf’s tax…
Memo
Read More: A Brief History of Wolf’s Tax HikesState Budget
Reversing the Status Quo in Pennsylvania
Higher government spending and raising taxes—while ignoring key fiscal reforms—is the status quo in Pennsylvania. For 45 years, government spending has steadily risen, increasing by an inflation-adjusted $13,800 per family of four or $3,450…
Memo
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Who is Wolf Giving Your Tax Dollars To?
Next week Gov. Tom Wolf will unveil a “new” budget, with all expectations that it will be just like his first proposal—calling for new taxes on working families. In fact, you…
Media
Read More: Who is Wolf Giving Your Tax Dollars To?Government Accountability
Wolf to PERC: “You’re Fired!”
Gov. Wolf has a history of trying to fire individuals who won’t kowtow to his agenda. He tried to remove Erik Arneson as head of the independent Office of Open…
Media
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