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
Four Facets of Wolf’s Tax Plan
On Wednesday, I testified before the Senate Finance Committee on the effects of Gov. Wolf’s proposed tax increases. My testimony covered four key areas. 1) Wolf’s plan represents more of…
Media
Read More: Four Facets of Wolf’s Tax PlanEducation
Will Tax Shifting Help Public Schools?
As I pointed out yesterday in a chart and blog post, Pennsylvania spends significantly more per student on public schools than the national average. Moreover, increased spending has…
Media
Read More: Will Tax Shifting Help Public Schools?Education
Chart: Education Funding Per Student
There is an ongoing myth that Pennsylvania underfunds public schools because our “state share” is low. Let’s set the record straight. As a reminder, schools receive revenue from local, state,…
Media
Read More: Chart: Education Funding Per Student
Guilty Until Proven Innocent
The presumption of innocence is at the heart of our nation’s criminal justice system. Yet here in Pennsylvania you can lose your property without ever being convicted of a crime—and…
Media
Read More: Guilty Until Proven InnocentState Budget
Zero Votes for Wolf Tax Hikes
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted on Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed tax increase—the largest in Pennsylvania’s history. The tax proposal failed by a 0-193 vote. That’s right, not a…
Media
Read More: Zero Votes for Wolf Tax HikesEducation
Natural Gas Severance Tax
Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources Energy Committee And Finance Committee Good afternoon. I want to thank Chairmen Yaw and Yudichak and Chairmen Eichelberger and Blake, along with the…
Testimony
Read More: Natural Gas Severance TaxTaxes & Economy
Reforming the Welfare Benefits Cliff
Imagine you’re a single mom earning $47,000 a year (or $22.59 an hour) working full-time as an assistant manager at large department store. Your boss pulls you aside with great…
Media
Read More: Reforming the Welfare Benefits CliffRegulation
The Monster at the end of this Blog Post
One of my favorite children’s books is titled “The Monster at the end of this Book.” In it, Grover (of Sesame Street fame) pleads with the reader not…
Media
Read More: The Monster at the end of this Blog PostRegulation
It’s Not Enough Just to Say No…
“It’s not good enough to just say no and continue with the same old same old.” So said Gov. Tom Wolf during his budget address, making clear his administration is…
Media
Read More: It’s Not Enough Just to Say No…State Budget
30,000 Jobs that Won’t Pay
Gov. Wolf’s tax plan would result in 30,000 jobs not created next year, according to a new analysis we released yesterday. Using the STAMP model, developed by…
Media
Read More: 30,000 Jobs that Won’t PayTaxes & Economy
The Impact of Gov. Wolf’s Tax Proposals on Job Creation
The Commonwealth Foundation worked with the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University to apply an economic modeling program to analyze the overall impact of Gov. Wolf’s proposals. Economists at Beacon Hill developed…
Memo
Read More: The Impact of Gov. Wolf’s Tax Proposals on Job Creation
Who to Believe on Wolf Tax Increase?
Friday, we pointed out a new Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) study that shows every income group will pay more in net taxes under Gov. Wolf’s proposed budget. In…
Media
Read More: Who to Believe on Wolf Tax Increase?State Budget
IFO: Everyone Pays More Under Wolf Tax Shift
The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released a new analysis of Gov. Wolf’s tax proposals yesterday. What is their most interesting conclusion? Taxpayers in every income bracket will see a net…
Media
Read More: IFO: Everyone Pays More Under Wolf Tax ShiftPublic Union Democracy
This Unionization Scheme is About Money
I am angry. As my colleague Dawn pointed out last week, ballots were mailed to home health care workers asking them whether or not they want to be represented by the…
Media
Read More: This Unionization Scheme is About MoneyPublic Union Democracy
Gov. Wolf’s Stealth Unionization of Home Health Care Workers
In 2015, Gov. Wolf issued an executive order paving the way for unionization of homecare workers in Pennsylvania. These workers provide in-home medical and personal care. Many of these workers are…
Memo
Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Stealth Unionization of Home Health Care WorkersTaxes & Economy
The Worst “Subsidy” Study You’ll Never Read
The radical environmentalist group and corporate welfare lobbyist PennFuture has updated an absurd study about the “subsidies” Pennsylvania taxpayers pay for fossil fuels. While we oppose subsidies for any industry, most…
Media
Read More: The Worst “Subsidy” Study You’ll Never ReadPublic Union Democracy
Wolf’s Stealth Unionization is Happening Now
Two lawsuits filed in Commonwealth Court last week say Gov. Wolf’s February executive order is an illegal attempt to unionize thousands of Pennsylvania homecare workers. But…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Stealth Unionization is Happening NowPublic Union Democracy
“Ludicrous” Union Dues Skim Faces Lawsuits
On Monday, two separate lawsuits were filed in response to Gov. Wolf’s February executive order which opens the door to unionizing tens of thousands of home health care…
Media
Read More: “Ludicrous” Union Dues Skim Faces LawsuitsGovernment Accountability
Contract Transparency: An Idea Whose Time Has Come
State union contracts worth billions of taxpayer dollars would be available for public inspection before being signed by the governor, if proposals unveiled by two state Senators become law. The…
Media
Read More: Contract Transparency: An Idea Whose Time Has ComeState Budget
Wolf’s Unfair Tax Shift
School districts that receive the most in state funding today would also be the biggest winners under Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposal for property tax rebates. Gov. Wolf’s proposed tax shift fails…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Unfair Tax ShiftState Budget
Gov. Wolf’s Proposed Property Tax Shift
As part of his 2015-16 budget proposal, Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed using some revenue from increased state taxes for school property tax relief beginning in 2016-17. This policy brief examines…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Proposed Property Tax Shift