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.”
Public Union Democracy
Government Union Cronies Collude Against Seniors
Here’s a letter to the editor I wrote identifying the connections between special interest groups who oppose a lottery contract, and their motives for undermining a deal that would generate…
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Read More: Government Union Cronies Collude Against SeniorsTaxes & Economy
Pa.’s Economic Glass Half Full?
Will Bunch’s column in the Philadelphia Daily News last week takes a very negative view of Pennsylvania’s economic climate, based on the premise that the state unemployment rate is higher…
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Read More: Pa.’s Economic Glass Half Full?Public Union Democracy
The Grinch Who Would Steal Seniors’ Christmas
A faux-grassroots group funded by government unions is protesting a proposed contract for a private company to manage the Pennsylvania Lottery. The deal would guarantee a minimum of…
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Read More: The Grinch Who Would Steal Seniors’ ChristmasPublic Union Democracy
Government Unions Tighten Squeeze
Following the passage of Right to Work in Michigan, pundits are wondering about the prospects of similar reform here in Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Inquirer correctly notes Right…
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Read More: Government Unions Tighten SqueezeHealth Care
Hidden Costs of Obamacare Exposed
While much has been written about the cost of the exchange and the Medicaid expansion, a mountain of hidden mandates could cost Pennsylvania taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars over…
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Read More: Hidden Costs of Obamacare ExposedHealth Care
Corbett Exchange Decision Right Call
Governor Corbett’s decision yesterday to refuse to implement a state-based health care exchange under the Affordable Care Act (which means Pennsylvania will revert to a federally-run exchange), was the…
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Read More: Corbett Exchange Decision Right CallPublic Union Democracy
More Wolverine Lessons
Friday, Charles commented on Michigan nearing passage of Right to Work, in line to become the 24th state where workers aren’t forced to pay fees to a union…
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Read More: More Wolverine LessonsCriminal Justice Reform
Three of Four Alarms Still Ringing
Late last month, the Independent Fiscal Office released its annual report looking at Pennsylvania’s economy and forecasting state budget expenditures and revenues. The trends remain alarming. Most notably, state…
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Read More: Three of Four Alarms Still RingingRegulation
Film Credits More Blooper Reel than Blockbuster
Film industry lobbyists are renewing calls for more corporate welfare for the film industry, through expansion of Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit. As we’ve noted time and…
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Read More: Film Credits More Blooper Reel than BlockbusterState Budget
Federal Funds Aren’t “Free”
There’s no such thing as a free lunch—meaning everything in life, including government programs, must be paid for. Unfortunately, many advocates of government health insurance expansion explain the Affordable…
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Read More: Federal Funds Aren’t “Free”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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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 Action