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.”
Taxes & Economy
You’re Innocent, but Your House may be Guilty
A recent episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver highlights the problem of asset forfeiture, with specific references to the city of Philadelphia. Philadelphia has seized more than…
Media
Read More: You’re Innocent, but Your House may be GuiltyGovernment Accountability
Government Unions’ Political Spending Dwarfs Natural Gas
A rehashed report from Common Cause PA and Conservation Voters of Pennsylvania assert that Marcellus Shale drillers spent $8 million on campaign contributions and $41 million on lobbying in…
Media
Read More: Government Unions’ Political Spending Dwarfs Natural GasTaxes & Economy
AP Story Errs on Wolf Spending Plan
A recent Associated Press story questions part of our analysis of Tom Wolf’s education spending and income tax proposals, specifically the notion that Mr. Wolf would have to double…
Media
Read More: AP Story Errs on Wolf Spending Plan
Election 2014: What are the Real Adult Issues?
Observers of the Pennsylvania governor’s race have been treated to a lot of adult-themed content in recent weeks, distracting from a discussion of the real policy differences between the candidates.
Commentary
Read More: Election 2014: What are the Real Adult Issues?Education
York Schools Can Send a Lifeline to Kids
The York City school board is considering an intriguing proposal to turn over some of its schools to a charter operator to compete with the remaining city schools (if the…
Media
Read More: York Schools Can Send a Lifeline to KidsState Budget
Immunizing Taxpayers from Chronic Overspending
Last week, two major bond rating agencies (Fitch and Standards & Poor’s) downgraded Pennsylvania’s debt rating citing poor fiscal health. While this should worry voters—taxpayers will be forced to pay…
Commentary
Read More: Immunizing Taxpayers from Chronic OverspendingRegulation
How Much are Pension Costs Affecting Schools?
My colleague Katrina has an op-ed in The Patriot-News today explaining the gravity of the state pension crisis and why action needs to happen now. As Katrina points out,…
Media
Read More: How Much are Pension Costs Affecting Schools?Education
Charter Schools Promote Segregation? Not So!
My letter to the editor in the Lehigh Valley Express Times refutes a claim that charter schools are promoting racial segregation: A recent article cites claims by…
Media
Read More: Charter Schools Promote Segregation? Not So!Health Care
Solving Health Care Without Obamacare Headaches
Montana’s Rib and Chop House in the Pittsburgh area is taking an innovative approach to providing health care coverage to employees, in spite of Obamacare. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports…
Media
Read More: Solving Health Care Without Obamacare HeadachesState Budget
Treasurer Finally Accepts that Fiscal Restraint is Needed
We at the Commonwealth Foundation are pleased to welcome State Treasurer Rob McCord to the fight for fiscal restraint. McCord, along with Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, held a press conference…
Media
Read More: Treasurer Finally Accepts that Fiscal Restraint is NeededEducation
Misconceptions Cloud School Funding Debate
Would you believe that nearly three-quarters of Pennsylvania’s voters underestimate how much money we spend on schools? Shocking but true, according to a new poll testing the public’s knowledge of…
Commentary
Read More: Misconceptions Cloud School Funding DebateEducation
School Reserves Offer Pension Reform Opportunity
Despite the rhetoric of “billions of dollars” in cuts from education, school districts across Pennsylvania have been able to increase their reserve funds. School districts had a combined reserve fund…
Media
Read More: School Reserves Offer Pension Reform OpportunityGovernment Accountability
Agreed: Public Resources Should not be used for Politics
“Public resources are not supposed to be used for partisan political purposes.” So says Barry Kauffman of Common Cause PA in a Tribune Review article. What Mr. Kauffman…
Media
Read More: Agreed: Public Resources Should not be used for PoliticsEducation
A Note on Philadelphia School Spending
Last week, we released a summary of spending, enrollment and staffing trends in the Philadelphia School District over the past decade. After this release,…
Media
Read More: A Note on Philadelphia School SpendingEducation
PSEA Spokesman Wins the Pinocchio Award
Readers of PolicyBlog already know that Pennsylvania education spending is at a record high, that state funding to school districts for…
Media
Read More: PSEA Spokesman Wins the Pinocchio AwardPublic Union Democracy
Union Dues Fund SuperPAC Spending Binge
A new $2 million political TV ad campaign represents the first foray of “SuperPAC” spending into Pennsylvania. And taxpayers are forced to pay for this political spending. As…
Media
Read More: Union Dues Fund SuperPAC Spending BingeRegulation
Downgrade Detrimental to Taxpayers
For the third time in two years, a major bond rating agency gave Pennsylvania a downgrade. The most recent downgrade, courtesy of Moody’s, has real implications for taxpayers. Moody’s…
Media
Read More: Downgrade Detrimental to TaxpayersEducation
Is There a Pension Crisis?
PolicyBlog readers will be well-familiar with the fact that Pennsyvlania state funding for public schools is at a record high. So why do government union leaders and some…
Media
Read More: Is There a Pension Crisis?Public Union Democracy
Teachers Unions Putting More Dues Money into Politics
While union leadership continues to repeat the myth that union dues cannot be used for politics, the latest newsletter from the Pennsylvania State Education Assocation again reveals, in small…
Media
Read More: Teachers Unions Putting More Dues Money into PoliticsEducation
State Education Spending at Record High
The recently passed Pennsylvania state budget sets a new record for state funding for public schools. The chart below illustrates this growth over the years. The total budgeted for the…
Media
Read More: State Education Spending at Record HighPublic Union Democracy
Taxpayer Collection of Union Political Money is Unique
Paycheck protection opponents claim that other groups, like charities and insurance companies, are allowed to use taxpayer resources for their deductions, just like government unions. But are all paycheck deductions…
Media
Read More: Taxpayer Collection of Union Political Money is Unique