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

Government Union Cronies Collude Against Seniors

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 3, 2013

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…

Media

Read More: Government Union Cronies Collude Against Seniors

Taxes & Economy

Pa.’s Economic Glass Half Full?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 27, 2012

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…

Media

Read More: Pa.’s Economic Glass Half Full?

Public Union Democracy

The Grinch Who Would Steal Seniors’ Christmas

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 20, 2012

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…

Media

Read More: The Grinch Who Would Steal Seniors’ Christmas

Public Union Democracy

Government Unions Tighten Squeeze

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 17, 2012

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…

Media

Read More: Government Unions Tighten Squeeze

Health Care

Hidden Costs of Obamacare Exposed

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • December 14, 2012

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…

Media

Read More: Hidden Costs of Obamacare Exposed

Health Care

Corbett Exchange Decision Right Call

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • December 13, 2012

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…

Media

Read More: Corbett Exchange Decision Right Call

Public Union Democracy

More Wolverine Lessons

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 10, 2012

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…

Media

Read More: More Wolverine Lessons

Criminal Justice Reform

Three of Four Alarms Still Ringing

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 3, 2012

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…

Media

Read More: Three of Four Alarms Still Ringing

Regulation

Film Credits More Blooper Reel than Blockbuster

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 21, 2012

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…

Media

Read More: Film Credits More Blooper Reel than Blockbuster

State Budget

Federal Funds Aren’t “Free”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 20, 2012

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…

Media

Read More: Federal Funds Aren’t “Free”

Public Union Democracy

Stones to Take on Goliath

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 13, 2012

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 Goliath

Health Care

What Does Election Mean for Obamacare?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2012

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

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2012

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 Debunked

Public Union Democracy

Election Lesson: Bring Wisconsin to Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 8, 2012

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…

Media

Read More: Election Lesson: Bring Wisconsin to Pennsylvania

Public Union Democracy

Election Day: 5 Things to Remember

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 6, 2012

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,…

Media

Read More: Election Day: 5 Things to Remember

Regulation

How Big is the Pension Bomb?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2012

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?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 1, 2012

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

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • October 23, 2012

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…

Media

Read More: Contain Medicaid Fire, Turn Hose on Pension Crisis

Taxes & Economy

Pa. Job Growth Triples National Rate

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 22, 2012

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 Rate

Education

Union Party Kills Charter Reform

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 18, 2012

Yesterday, I noted that despite watering down a proposed charter school reform bill, legislators were still hearing from government union bosses and other…

Media

Read More: Union Party Kills Charter Reform

Education

Why Lawmakers Should Embrace Bold Action

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 17, 2012

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…

Media

Read More: Why Lawmakers Should Embrace Bold Action