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.”
Education
More state dollars won’t create better scholars
Originally published at LNP Earlier this month, the Basic Education Funding Commission released its long-overdue recommendations regarding Pennsylvania’s fair funding formula for public schools. Unfortunately, the recommendations from the…
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Gov. Shapiro wants unilateral power to commit the state to climate agreements
Originally published at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette During a recent black-tie affair in a Manhattan ballroom, Gov. Josh Shapiro encouraged Pennsylvania lawmakers to embrace bipartisanship. “It doesn’t just last a weekend,…
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Read More: Gov. Shapiro wants unilateral power to commit the state to climate agreementsProsperity
Conservative Donors Failed to Show Up in the 2023 Elections
Originally published in the Wall Street Journal Once critics of the supposedly malign influence of money in politics, the progressive left proved to be big spenders in November’s elections.
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Commonwealth Foundation Sr. VP Nathan Benefield on The Rich Zeoli Show November 2, 2023
Commonwealth Foundation Sr. Vice President Nathan Benefield joined The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss a Pennsylvania appellate court’s decision to prevent the state’s entrance into the Regional Green House Gas…
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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Sr. VP Nathan Benefield on The Rich Zeoli Show November 2, 2023Public Union Democracy
Union Pandering Disguised as Railway Safety
Originally published at RealClearPolicy More workers have gone on strike in the first nine months of 2023 than in all of 2022. Philadelphia alone saw strikes at Temple University, Rutgers University,…
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Read More: Union Pandering Disguised as Railway SafetyEducation
Shapiro Must Reset His Legislative Strategy
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The recent sexual harassment scandal rocking Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration has made many headlines. And though Shapiro must take these accusations seriously, there could be a…
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Read More: Shapiro Must Reset His Legislative StrategyGovernment Accountability
Shapiro’s ‘Voter Registration’ Change Just Another Photo Op
Originally published in The American Spectator Earlier this month, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced, with great fanfare, that he is implementing “automatic voter registration” in the Keystone State.
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Read More: Shapiro’s ‘Voter Registration’ Change Just Another Photo OpEducation
Pennsylvanians Deserve the Truth on Education Spending
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania’s Basic Education Funding Commission has begun holding hearings on how to remake the state’s public schools funding formula after a state court determined that the existing…
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Read More: Pennsylvanians Deserve the Truth on Education SpendingEducation
Pa. House Majority Leader Matt Bradford’s failed leadership
Originally published in The Mercury The Pennsylvania budget remains unfinished, while Pennsylvania House lawmakers remain on vacation (in recess) until the end of September. While it’s up to Speaker…
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Read More: Pa. House Majority Leader Matt Bradford’s failed leadershipEducation
A Democrat saved school choice in Maryland. Can the same thing happen in Pennsylvania?
Originally published at The Patriot-News Maryland’s targeted educational choice program was on the chopping block earlier this year. With Democrats controlling both legislative chambers and flipping the governor’s…
Commentary
Read More: A Democrat saved school choice in Maryland. Can the same thing happen in Pennsylvania?Education
If Ohio Can Fix Education, So Can Pennsylvania
Originally published at RealClearEducation There is a big lie recited as gospel: Giving parents educational choice drains money from public schools and ultimately destroys them. Teachers union lobbyists recently…
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Read More: If Ohio Can Fix Education, So Can PennsylvaniaEducation
Pennsylvanians Are Leaving – But Shapiro, Lawmakers Can Inspire Them to Stay
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Do you know someone who left Pennsylvania – or is considering doing so – to find greener pastures? You’re not alone. Nearly half of Pennsylvanians…
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Read More: Pennsylvanians Are Leaving – But Shapiro, Lawmakers Can Inspire Them to StayProsperity
Bidenomics Doesn’t Add Up for Pennsylvania or America
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania President Joe Biden is returning to his birth state to pitch his newly branded economic vision: Bidenomics. Though Biden seems eager to paint a rosy…
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Read More: Bidenomics Doesn’t Add Up for Pennsylvania or AmericaEducation
Shapiro, lawmakers must choose — students or special interests?
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review In education policy, there are two main groups of stakeholders: parents and special interests. Parents want the best opportunities for their children, while…
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Read More: Shapiro, lawmakers must choose — students or special interests?Education
Why are some Democrats holding kids hostage in failing schools? For more money
Originally published at The Patriot-News On Friday, the Pennsylvania Senate passed, as part of a comprehensive state budget, Lifeline Scholarships to save kids trapped in the lowest-performing schools—with bipartisan…
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Read More: Why are some Democrats holding kids hostage in failing schools? For more moneyEducation
By keeping his promises, Shapiro can help Pennsylvania lead the nation
Originally published in The Morning Call The recent national debt limit boondoggle that occupied Congress and President Biden is a valuable lesson for what not to do in government.
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Read More: By keeping his promises, Shapiro can help Pennsylvania lead the nationEducation
Educational choice is on the rise, and the data supports it
Originally published in the Patriot-News Across the nation, states are expanding educational options for families. Already this year, ten states have created or broadened school choice programs. Iowa, Arkansas,…
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Read More: Educational choice is on the rise, and the data supports itPublic Union Democracy
Uprooting the Teachers Unions
Originally published at The American Mind Across the country, teacher union leaders and leftist pundits frequently malign educational choice expansion as an insidious plot to “dismantle public education”…
Commentary
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Bipartisan Support for Education Reforms
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania In Pennsylvania, divides over public education remain constant. The debates range from school funding disputes to curriculum fights, from arguments over critical race theory and…
Media Hit
Read More: Bipartisan Support for Education ReformsGovernment Accountability
Dems are determined to stop voter ID, even if it comes at the expense of their top legislative goal
Originally published at City & State PA For two months, Democrats and left-wing activists stonewalled the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to prevent a vote on the voter ID and…
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Read More: Dems are determined to stop voter ID, even if it comes at the expense of their top legislative goalEducation
No real education reform without school choice. Bigger budgets won’t do enough.
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Flooding public schools with more money won’t deliver educational opportunity for every student. Equitable opportunity requires that every student has access to the educational…
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Read More: No real education reform without school choice. Bigger budgets won’t do enough.