Nathan Benefield
Senior Vice President
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 senior vice president, 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
Stones to Take on Goliath
My friend Jon Caldara of our sister think-tank in Colorado eloquently and humorously offers an important lesson from the election—the results stem not from a short-term campaign, but from…
Media
Read More: Stones to Take on GoliathHealth Care
What Does Election Mean for Obamacare?
While exit polling shows a majority of voters support full or partial repeal of the Affordable Care Act, this outcome remains unlikely. President Obama will not reverse his…
Media
Read More: What Does Election Mean for Obamacare?Regulation
Pension Crisis Deniers Debunked
Last Thursday night, Katrina Currie debated the AFL-CIO’s Rick Bloomingdale on PCN’s call in show on the public pension crisis. Bloomingdale largely argued that there was no crisis (at least…
Media
Read More: Pension Crisis Deniers DebunkedPublic Union Democracy
Election Lesson: Bring Wisconsin to Pennsylvania
The Wall Street Journal today writes about “Big Labor’s Losses” in Tuesday’s election. This may seem hard for many Pennsylvanians to fathom, given the role government union bosses…
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Read More: Election Lesson: Bring Wisconsin to PennsylvaniaPublic Union Democracy
Election Day: 5 Things to Remember
1. The election results won’t slay Goliath. The special interests who feed off of tax dollars—government union bosses, trial lawyers, extreme greens, crony capitalists that rely on corporate welfare,…
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Read More: Election Day: 5 Things to RememberRegulation
How Big is the Pension Bomb?
Taxpayers will have to pay $1,385 more each year for 30 years to fully pay off pension liabilities, according to a new study on the cost of pension plans…
Media
Read More: How Big is the Pension Bomb?Taxes & Economy
Will Shale Boom Change Election?
The shale gas boom has boosted the economy in key battleground states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, which may help President Obama, despite his hostility towards fracking—the process which…
Media
Read More: Will Shale Boom Change Election?Health Care
Contain Medicaid Fire, Turn Hose on Pension Crisis
Last night’s presidential debate (despite the focus on foreign policy) featured much talk on skyrocketing debt and unsustainable entitlement programs. Protecting the middle class from growing debt isn’t a problem…
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Read More: Contain Medicaid Fire, Turn Hose on Pension CrisisTaxes & Economy
Pa. Job Growth Triples National Rate
Last week saw the release of September state jobs data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Media coverage of this jobs report focused on the unemployment rate only, which…
Media
Read More: Pa. Job Growth Triples National RateEducation
Union Party Kills Charter Reform
Yesterday, I noted that despite watering down a proposed charter school reform bill, legislators were still hearing from government union bosses and other…
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Read More: Union Party Kills Charter ReformEducation
Why Lawmakers Should Embrace Bold Action
Yesterday, the State Senate approved SB 1115, a charter school reform bill, which now goes to the House. This is a positive development for Pennsylvania children and parents. However, the…
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Read More: Why Lawmakers Should Embrace Bold ActionState Budget
Gov. Corbett Earns “A” for Fiscal Firefighting
Gov. Tom Corbett was one of only four governors to get an “A” in Cato Institute’s Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors. Corbett was joined by Govs. Sam…
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Read More: Gov. Corbett Earns “A” for Fiscal FirefightingEducation
How Much Do Philadelphia Schools Spend?
Following Matt’s appearance on WHYY yesterday morning, we’ve received questions over our calculation on Philadelphia school district spending per student. The error was ours. Based on the latest spending…
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Read More: How Much Do Philadelphia Schools Spend?Education
Parental Choice + Competition = Better Schools
A new study of academic performance in Ohio finds that traditional public schools facing competition from charter schools experience greater gains in student learning. In summarizing the findings, the…
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Read More: Parental Choice + Competition = Better SchoolsEducation
Charter Expansion Would Boost Student Learning
Priya wrote about the recent decline in state test scores and in the number of schools making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), noting seven facts union bosses don’t want you…
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Read More: Charter Expansion Would Boost Student LearningEducation
Pennsylvania’s Academic Performance and Implications for Charter School Reform
The 2011-12 state PSSA results show declines across the board, and fewer districts and schools making Adequate Year Progress. Here are some key facts concerning this latest development, and what…
Memo
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Academic Performance and Implications for Charter School ReformEducation
5 Fixes for Property Tax Fires
Yesterday, I testified before the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reform, presenting on the best tax policy to finance government operations, and on…
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Read More: 5 Fixes for Property Tax FiresEducation
Approaches to Property Tax Reform
Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Pennsylvania House Select Committee on Property Tax Reform Good morning, my name is Nathan Benefield; I am the director of policy analysis for…
Testimony
Read More: Approaches to Property Tax ReformRegulation
Mailbag: What Bills Would Fireproof Economy?
One of our PolicyBlog readers asks: What bills would help address the Four Alarm Fire you keep speaking about? Here are a few bills we have been tracking: Taxpayer…
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Read More: Mailbag: What Bills Would Fireproof Economy?Education
PSBA Chooses Scores Over Kids
Yesterday, Priya posted on how a Philadelphia area family faces criminal charges for trying to put their child in a better school, while demand for Pennsylvania’s new Opportunity Scholarship…
Media
Read More: PSBA Chooses Scores Over KidsHealth Care
Reps to Guv: Reject Medicaid Expansion
In July, 45 members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives sent a letter to Gov. Corbett calling for him to opt out of the Medicaid expansion and the insurance…
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Read More: Reps to Guv: Reject Medicaid Expansion