Nathan Benefield

Nathan Benefield

Chief Policy Officer

Nathan (Nate) Benefield is the Chief Policy Officer at the Commonwealth Foundation.

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.”

Public Union Democracy

Super PACs Supersize Union Political Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 8, 2014

Super PACs are elbowing into state elections, promising to supersize the already dominating role unions play in electoral politics. Effectively, Super PACs can collect and spend an unlimited amount of…

Commentary

Read More: Super PACs Supersize Union Political Spending

Public Union Democracy

Are Teachers’ Union Dues Used for Politics?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 31, 2014

Did you see the PSEA’s latest Voice magazine? It features a full two-page article, claiming, among other things, that “no dues money is given to candidates.” This is true…

Media

Read More: Are Teachers’ Union Dues Used for Politics?

Education

Playing the Education Lottery

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 31, 2014

Last month, families from across Pennsylvania waited anxiously to hear if they had finally won the lottery. But these hopeful parents weren’t looking to win the MegaMillions—they were hoping for…

Commentary

Read More: Playing the Education Lottery

Education

Charter School Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 14, 2014

Good morning, my name is Nathan Benefield; I am the vice president of policy analysis for the Commonwealth Foundation. I wish to thank Auditor General DePasquale for the opportunity to…

Testimony

Read More: Charter School Reform

Public Union Democracy

Super PAC will Super Size Union Dues in Politics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 12, 2014

You may have read articles about a federal judge allowing a “Super PAC” to operate in Pennsylvania to attack Republicans. Effectively, Super PACs can collect and spend unlimited amounts…

Media

Read More: Super PAC will Super Size Union Dues in Politics

Government Accountability

State House to Tackle Union Violence

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 11, 2014

Federal charges of racketeering and arson against several Philadelphia union members, who called themselves The Helpful Union Guys (or T.H.U.G.s) has renewed interest in closing a loophole in…

Media

Read More: State House to Tackle Union Violence

Public Union Democracy

Union Dues Still Fund Politics & Union Members Don’t Like It

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 4, 2014

Last night, I spoke with ABC 27 about polling that shows the vast majority of union household support ending taxpayer collection of union political money. See the video…

Media

Read More: Union Dues Still Fund Politics & Union Members Don’t Like It

Education

The Berlin Wall of Philadelphia’s Public Schools

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 27, 2014

Students in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh had their hopes dashed last week when they lost out on the chance to land one of the few vacant openings in charter schools. In…

Media

Read More: The Berlin Wall of Philadelphia’s Public Schools

Public Union Democracy

Unions Pouring Big Money in Pennsylvania Elections

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 27, 2014

As we’ve pointed out in the past, unions—often using campaign contributions collected at taxpayer expense—dominate political spending and electioneering. Well, the first campaign…

Media

Read More: Unions Pouring Big Money in Pennsylvania Elections

Education

Myth: PA Spends Less on Education

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 25, 2014

There are many myths circulating about how much Pennsylvania spends on public education. One such myth is that the state government used to provide 50 percent of all revenue for…

Media

Read More: Myth: PA Spends Less on Education

State Budget

Gov. Rendell Left Pennsylvania a Big Deficit

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 24, 2014

Recent headlines have former Gov. Ed Rendell challenging Gov. Tom Corbett on the issue of the deficit he left the current administration. Gov. Corbett has campaign ads stating he closed…

Media

Read More: Gov. Rendell Left Pennsylvania a Big Deficit

Public Union Democracy

Big Labor’s Billions Targeting PA

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 20, 2014

Unions are spending millions on politics, and drumming up issues like a minimum wage increase, solely to win some elections, the New York Times reports today. Union leaders are…

Media

Read More: Big Labor’s Billions Targeting PA

Government Accountability

Union Spokesmen Still Lying About Paycheck Protection

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 19, 2014

Yesterday, I pointed out that union leaders would use every bogeyman and slogan in their playbook rather than explain why taxpayers should collect their political money. As if on…

Media

Read More: Union Spokesmen Still Lying About Paycheck Protection

Public Union Democracy

Union Members Support Paycheck Protection

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 18, 2014

Last week, my colleague Bob wrote in the Patriot News that union leaders are waging a “war on truth” by attacking paycheck protection but ignoring the real issue: whether…

Media

Read More: Union Members Support Paycheck Protection

State Budget

5 Facts About the State Budget Proposal

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • February 6, 2014

The 2014-15 Pennsylvania State Budget proposal is more than 1000 pages, but we’ve boiled it down to five facts taxpayers you need to know 1. State Spending is at an All-Time…

Media

Read More: 5 Facts About the State Budget Proposal

State Budget

State Budget Déjà Vu

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 5, 2014

Ceremonies in Punxsutawney have come and gone, but every year Groundhog Day reminds me of the film of the same name—in which Bill Murray lives the same day over and over…

Commentary

Read More: State Budget Déjà Vu

Public Union Democracy

Should Public Resources be Used to Collect Political Money?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 29, 2014

My letter to the editor in the Carlisle Sentinel attempts to cut through all the rhetoric and ad hominem attacks by getting straight to the point regarding the debate…

Media

Read More: Should Public Resources be Used to Collect Political Money?

Government Accountability

Government Unions Bosses United for Political Attack Ads

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 28, 2014

Politics PA reported last week that a group called “Americans United for Change” is targeting four Pennsylvania Congressmen (Charlie Dent, Joe Pitts, Mike Fitzpatrick, and Pat Meehan) in their…

Media

Read More: Government Unions Bosses United for Political Attack Ads

Public Union Democracy

National, State Teachers’ Unions Don’t Talk to Teachers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 27, 2014

A survey of National Education Association (NEA) members, summarized by the Educational Intelligence Agency, reveals most teacher union members never hear from state and national union officials. While most…

Media

Read More: National, State Teachers’ Unions Don’t Talk to Teachers

Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania Next in Union Crosshairs

  • Nathan Benefield, Priya Brannick
  • January 24, 2014

Government union leaders are ramping up their attack messaging machine in Pennsylvania and planning a rally to bully state lawmakers as they did in Wisconsin and Michigan. But…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Next in Union Crosshairs

Government Accountability

Answering the Critics About Paycheck Protection

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 23, 2014

Under current law and contracts, it’s permissible for a school district’s personnel office to act as the collection agent for Political Action Committee contributions and membership dues…

Memo

Read More: Answering the Critics About Paycheck Protection