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
Wolf’s Tax Plan: Three Things Every Family Needs to Know
Here are three things to know about Gov. Wolf’s proposed tax plan: Wolf’s budget calls for a net tax increase of about $1,400 more per family of four this year (with…
Media
Read More: Wolf’s Tax Plan: Three Things Every Family Needs to KnowState Budget
Summary of Governor Wolf’s 2015-2016 Budget Proposal
General Fund spending is projected to reach $31.6 billion—the largest spending increase (8.7 percent) in 25 years. Gov. Wolf is proposing to move $1.75 billion in school pension payments to a…
Memo
Read More: Summary of Governor Wolf’s 2015-2016 Budget ProposalState Budget
Thirty Cents in Tax Relief for Every Dollar in New Taxes
Gov. Tom Wolf touts property tax relief in his new budget, but fails to mention taxpayers are going to pay more—a lot more—in higher state taxes. Over the next two…
Media
Read More: Thirty Cents in Tax Relief for Every Dollar in New TaxesState Budget
How Big, Bad is Wolf’s Budget?
The first point of contention on Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget isn’t about his tax increases, or any specific policy item, but rather over the true size of his proposals.
Media
Read More: How Big, Bad is Wolf’s Budget?Public Union Democracy
Gov. Wolf Authorizes New Union Money-Grab
On Friday, Gov. Tom Wolf issued an executive order that effectively helps SEIU (Service Employees International Union) unionize home health care workers. Many of these workers are simply taking…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Authorizes New Union Money-Grab
Government Should Do Less So We Can Do More
Prosperity or ruin? In theory, it’s a simple choice with an obvious answer. But in practice, complicating factors make the decision anything but easy.
Commentary
Read More: Government Should Do Less So We Can Do MoreGovernment Accountability
PA Union Campaign Contributions Exceed $10 Million
Pennsylvania government unions gave more than $10.5 million to candidates last election cycle. We updated our analysis of union political spending using the latest reports filed with the PA…
Media
Read More: PA Union Campaign Contributions Exceed $10 Million
Wolf Misleads on Need for More Taxes
Gov. Tom Wolf today proposed a new tax on natural gas, fulfilling one of his campaign promises. However, much of his rhetoric doesn’t match reality. Wolf’s proposal calls for a…
Media
Read More: Wolf Misleads on Need for More TaxesRegulation
Liquor Liberty On Tap Again
Pennsylvania voters have consistently said they want more convenience and choice by privatizing liquor sales. Not only would privatizing the state-run liquor store monopoly grant voters their wish, but it…
Media
Read More: Liquor Liberty On Tap AgainGovernment Accountability
Will Gov. Wolf Stay True to “Openness” in Government?
Gov. Tom Wolf’s first week in office included several moves to paint a picture of ethics and transparency in state government. First Wolf issued executive orders banning executive staff from…
Media
Read More: Will Gov. Wolf Stay True to “Openness” in Government?Energy
Shale Gas Fuels Pennsylvania Job Growth
It’s indisputable that where there is Marcellus shale drilling there has been robust economic growth. Over the past six years, Pennsylvania counties with Marcellus shale drilling led the state in…
Commentary
Read More: Shale Gas Fuels Pennsylvania Job GrowthGovernment Accountability
Wolf’s Multi-Million Dollar Conflict of Interest
Governor-elect Tom Wolf has come out of the gate leading a charge for ethics reform in government. But if accepting a small gift creates a conflict of interest, the gov.-elect…
Commentary
Read More: Wolf’s Multi-Million Dollar Conflict of InterestHealth Care
Obamacare Failing Big Time
According to John Micek’s reading of a recent Gallup poll on health insurance, Obamacare is “working after all.” In reality, though, Gallup’s findings indicate that the health care overhaul…
Media
Read More: Obamacare Failing Big TimeRegulation
Liquor Privatization Reduces Operating Cost
Union leaders, copying from the same talking point memo, have repeated an identical falsehood about liquor store privatization. In two recent letters to the editor, I correct the record of…
Media
Read More: Liquor Privatization Reduces Operating Cost
Marcellus Shale Equals Economic Growth
Where there is Marcellus shale drilling there is economic growth. Over the past six years, Pennsylvania counties with Marcellus shale drilling saw the largest gains in economic growth. The most…
Media
Read More: Marcellus Shale Equals Economic GrowthTaxes & Economy
Former Pennsylvanians Voted with their Feet
Residents continued their exodus from Pennsylvania in 2014. The latest Census population estimates, released last month, show that Pennsylvania gained 5,913 in total population between July 2013 and July…
Media
Read More: Former Pennsylvanians Voted with their FeetPublic Union Democracy
PSEA Admits Using Dues for Politics
The Pennsylvania State Education Association admitted using union members’ dues, via a “SuperPAC,” to fund an election mailer supporting Governor-Elect Wolf, following a public apology last month for the mailer’s…
Media
Read More: PSEA Admits Using Dues for Politics
Mary’s Law: Protecting Teachers and Taxpayers
“Mary’s Law,” new legislation that will soon be introduced by State Senators John Eichelberger and Gene Yaw—along with 10 other senators—would end the taxpayer-funded collection of political money. Update:…
Media
Read More: Mary’s Law: Protecting Teachers and TaxpayersEducation
School Funding Reform & Weighted Student Funding
Thank you for the opportunity to offer testimony to this commission on the important topic of reforming how we distribute state funding for education. Our written testimony will focus on…
Testimony
Read More: School Funding Reform & Weighted Student Funding
A Real Conflict of Interest
Governor-elect Tom Wolf has recently made headlines for urging a gift ban, prohibiting executive branch officials from accepting gifts from lobbyists, and indicating he would end “no-bid” legal…
Media
Read More: A Real Conflict of InterestPublic Union Democracy
Why we Need Paycheck Protection Now
Today, Commonwealth Foundation released a new summary of election-related spending by Pennsylvania’s government unions. In 2014, the seven largest government unions in the state gave $7.3 million directly to…
Media
Read More: Why we Need Paycheck Protection Now