Nathan Benefield

Nathan Benefield

Senior Vice President

Nathan (Nate) Benefield is the Senior Vice President 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 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.”

Health Care

Medicaid Myth #3: Ryan Plan Kicks Folks Off Of Medicaid

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • August 31, 2012

This concludes our blog series on the myths of the Ryan Medicaid plan. Wednesday‘s blog showed why Ryan’s plan would preserve rather than gut Medicaid and yesterday‘s post…

Media

Read More: Medicaid Myth #3: Ryan Plan Kicks Folks Off Of Medicaid

Health Care

Will Paul Ryan Raid Medicaid?

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2012

The 2012 campaign continues to center on candidates and their allies calling the other guys “extremists,” and few bear the title as often as Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan.  For…

Media

Read More: Will Paul Ryan Raid Medicaid?

Health Care

Fact Check: Paul Ryan’s Path to Prosperity and Medicaid

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • August 29, 2012

Far from hurting the poor, Ryan's Medicaid plan will preserve their access to health care by making the government health care program affordable and sustainable. The plan has three main…

Memo

Read More: Fact Check: Paul Ryan’s Path to Prosperity and Medicaid

Education

Back to School Numbers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 28, 2012

With kids returning to school this week, here are some fast facts about education spending and performance in Pennsylvania. $14,865: The amount Pennsylvania school districts spent per student in…

Media

Read More: Back to School Numbers

State Budget

Four Alarms Reverberate in Corbett Memo

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 24, 2012

A recent memo from Gov. Corbett to all state agencies offers budget-saving tips, reminding officials that Pennsylvania faces a four alarm fiscal fire. PA Independent has…

Media

Read More: Four Alarms Reverberate in Corbett Memo

Taxes & Economy

Pittsburgh Transit Bailout Railroads Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 23, 2012

PA Independent reports that Pennsylvania state taxpayers will give $30 million to the Port Authority of Allegheny County to entice the local union to sign a contract: Pittsburgh’s…

Media

Read More: Pittsburgh Transit Bailout Railroads Taxpayers

Education

Hundreds of Pa. Schools Taking Opportunity Scholarships

  • Nathan Benefield, Priya Brannick
  • August 20, 2012

Since our last update on the new Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) program, the Pa. Department of Education and Department of Community and Economic Development have compiled additional information…

Media

Read More: Hundreds of Pa. Schools Taking Opportunity Scholarships

Education

Keep Tuition Affordable Legislative Package

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 15, 2012

Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to Pennsylvania House State Government Committee, August 15, 2012 Good morning, my name is Nathan Benefield; I am the director of policy analysis for the…

Testimony

Read More: Keep Tuition Affordable Legislative Package

Public Union Democracy

Union Allowed to Stalk in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 13, 2012

A new report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce highlights special state laws governing labor unions. For example, four states, including Pennsylvania, have anti-stalking laws, but exempt labor unions…

Media

Read More: Union Allowed to Stalk in Pennsylvania

Health Care

ACA a Boon to Special Interests

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 13, 2012

Tim Carney continues to highlight the role special interests— including the largest players in the health care industry—played in crafting the socalled Affordable Care Act, dispelling the myth that…

Media

Read More: ACA a Boon to Special Interests

Regulation

No More Solyndras in Pa.’s Future?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 9, 2012

Pennsylvania Independent’s Melissa Daniels writes that corporate welfare programs to benefit solar companies are on their way out in Pennsylvania, saving consumers more than $100 million.  Two major state…

Media

Read More: No More Solyndras in Pa.’s Future?

Welfare

Attorney General Chases More Welfare Thieves

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 3, 2012

In another example of those employed in the welfare system (allegedly) getting rich off the poor through fraud, Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly has charged two Delaware County DPW employees, Cynthia Lewis and Ivan…

Media

Read More: Attorney General Chases More Welfare Thieves

Education

Opportunity Scholarships Now Open for Business in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 2, 2012

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development issued new guidelines regarding the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) program. Businesses can begin applying for tax credits on August 8.

Media

Read More: Opportunity Scholarships Now Open for Business in Pennsylvania

Taxes & Economy

Welfare Anti-Fraud Measures Earn Gold Medal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 1, 2012

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare received an award for its recent efforts to curb waste and fraud.  The Council of State Governments gave DPW a 2012 Innovations Award…

Media

Read More: Welfare Anti-Fraud Measures Earn Gold Medal

Education

Unable to Win, Union Bosses Try to Change Election Rules

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 24, 2012

My younger brother Matt and I often enjoy an intense pickup one-on-one basketball game. Being seven years older, I had the advantage for a long time. As kids, I was…

Media

Read More: Unable to Win, Union Bosses Try to Change Election Rules

Education

Taxpayers Benefit from School Choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 23, 2012

I had a letter to the editor in Friday’s edition of the Philadelphia Daily News on the benefits of the expansion of school choice in Pennsylvania for taxpayers…

Media

Read More: Taxpayers Benefit from School Choice

Regulation

Moody’s Sounds the Four Alarms

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 17, 2012

Yesterday, Moody’s Investor Services downgraded Pennsylvania’s bond rating one level. The downgrade implies Pennsylvania bonds are riskier than previously assessed, and it could make it more expensive for the…

Media

Read More: Moody’s Sounds the Four Alarms

Government Accountability

Union Privileges Fuel More Money in Politics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 16, 2012

Turns out not everything is bigger in Texas. The Lone Star State has twice the population of Pennsylvania, yet when it comes to political spending, Pennsylvania’s labor unions can outgun…

Media

Read More: Union Privileges Fuel More Money in Politics

Health Care

ACA Encourages Young & Healthy to Stay Uninsured

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • July 12, 2012

An AP article claims the Affordable Care Act will lower the cost of insurance for young adults through a host of government interventions such as new mandates, Medicaid…

Media

Read More: ACA Encourages Young & Healthy to Stay Uninsured

Education

School Choice Expansion in Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 11, 2012

The fiscal year 2012-13 state budget increases the Educational Improvement Tax Credit by $25 million to $100 million and creates a new $50 million tax credit for Opportunity Scholarships—effectively doubling…

Memo

Read More: School Choice Expansion in Pennsylvania