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.”
State Budget
Which States Have the Biggest Tax Increases?
Previously, we blogged on how Gov. Wolf’s tax proposal raises more revenue than the tax proposals in the 49 other states combined. To put this another way, Wolf’s $4.6 billion tax increase is nearly $4 billion more…
Media
Read More: Which States Have the Biggest Tax Increases?State Budget
Pay No Attention to Those Tax Increases!
The liberal Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center—an arm of the union-funded Keystone Research Center—has a new claim that Gov. Wolf's “property tax relief” is similiar to that in a bill passed…
Media
Read More: Pay No Attention to Those Tax Increases!State Budget
When Will Gov. Wolf Compromise?
My letter to the editor in the Times Leader today takes Gov. Wolf to task for claiming to compromise, while still insisting on his sales and income tax increases—the largest tax…
Media
Read More: When Will Gov. Wolf Compromise?Taxes & Economy
Wolf Truth Squad: The Dirty Dozen
Gov. Tom Wolf is touring the state, touting an energy tax for education—while omitting several important facts. He’s not mentioning that a severance tax will hurt real people with…
Media
Read More: Wolf Truth Squad: The Dirty DozenPublic Union Democracy
The Law Should Not Condone Violence
Yesterday, Ironworkers Local 401 union leader Joseph Dougherty was given a 19 year prison sentence for encouraging sabotage and intimidation to advance his union’s interests. The judge in the…
Media
Read More: The Law Should Not Condone ViolenceTaxes & Economy
A Severance Tax “Like Other States”? Not so fast
Gov. Tom Wolf and special interest groups continue to insist Pennsylvania needs to enact a severance tax because “other states have one.” This, of course, ignores the fact that Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: A Severance Tax “Like Other States”? Not so fast
Wolf Wrong About Pensions & Downgrades
Over the past week, Gov. Tom Wolf has been defending his vetoes of the state budget, pension reform, and liquor privatization, noting that rating agencies have been downgrading Pennsylvania’s…
Media
Read More: Wolf Wrong About Pensions & DowngradesState Budget
Wolf Truth Squad: Property Tax Relief Now
In a Patriot News story, Gov. Wolf’s spokesman Jeff Sheridan commented on need for immediate “property tax relief”—comments that don’t jibe with Gov. Wolf’s actual budget proposal. “Pennsylvanians don’t need property…
Media
Read More: Wolf Truth Squad: Property Tax Relief NowEducation
America Works (On Misleading the Public)
America Works USA, an affiliate of the union-funded Democratic Governors Association, recently launched an ad campaign in support of Gov. Wolf’s effort to raise taxes on middle-…
Media
Read More: America Works (On Misleading the Public)Regulation
Wolf Repeating Same Mistakes of the Past
Earlier this week, we pointed out how Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of liquor privatization—using talking points from union leaders to justify his action—didn’t make much sense. Wolf’s reasoning…
Media
Read More: Wolf Repeating Same Mistakes of the PastTaxes & Economy
Reprehensible
In the Philadelphia Inquirer earlier this week, Gov. Tom Wolf uses strong rhetoric about his desire for a large severance tax increase. The governor responded by calling it…
Media
Read More: ReprehensibleEducation
The Illustrated Pennsylvania State Budget
There’s a lot of misinformation being thrown around about the Pennsylvania state budget and education spending. While folk are entitled to their own opinions, they aren’t entitled to their own…
Media
Read More: The Illustrated Pennsylvania State BudgetPublic Union Democracy
Gov. Wolf Does Understand Economics
Last Thursday, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed legislation passed by the general assembly that would allow private retailers to sell wine and liquor. As my colleague Bob pointed out,…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Does Understand EconomicsRegulation
Growing Bipartisan Support for Municipal Pension Reform
On Tuesday, a task force spearheaded by Auditor General Eugene DePasquale released its recommendation for municipal pension reform. The report recommends, among other things, more transparency and accountability in municipal…
Media
Read More: Growing Bipartisan Support for Municipal Pension ReformEducation
Gov. Wolf, Don’t Raises Taxes on Working People
My letter to the editor in the Pocono Record tackles some of the myths about educations spending and Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed tax increase—and why, after the House of Represented rejected…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf, Don’t Raises Taxes on Working PeopleRegulation
The Myth of the Modest Pension
One of the specious arguments used to thwart pension reform centers on the average benefits of retirees. Opponents of reform claim the “average pension benefit” is around $25,000 annually. But…
Media
Read More: The Myth of the Modest PensionState Budget
Has Wolf Dropped His Unpopular Tax Demands?
Throughout this state budget debate, Gov. Wolf has touted his natural gas severance tax to fund education. And some reporters refer to the severance tax as the “cornerstone” or “…
Media
Read More: Has Wolf Dropped His Unpopular Tax Demands?
Of Volkswagens and Public Schools
In a story by Capitolwire (paywall), state Rep. Curtis Thomas is quoted as saying, “We cannot ask children to give us Cadillac performance when you give them Volkswagen dollars to…
Media
Read More: Of Volkswagens and Public SchoolsGovernment Accountability
An Update on Union Contracts
Earlier this week, the House State Government Committee moved SB 644 and SB 645—bills which would provide taxpayers greater information about contracts with government unions—to the House floor.
Media
Read More: An Update on Union ContractsState Budget
Who Pays For a Severance Tax?
Proponents of a new natural gas tax—which would be in addition to the existing impact fee (tax) and other taxes extractors already pay—ignore the consequences new taxes will have…
Media
Read More: Who Pays For a Severance Tax?State Budget
How Does Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan Stand Up?
How out of whack is Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed $4.6 billion tax increase? Pretty far out there compared with the rest of the nation, according to a new report…
Media
Read More: How Does Gov. Wolf’s Tax Plan Stand Up?