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.”

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

Education

Auditor Errs On Charter School Funding

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 11, 2012

Auditor General Jack Wagner recently release a report criticizing charter school funding.  Unfortunately, the report is riddled with errors. One key flaw is the argument that cyber schools get…

Media

Read More: Auditor Errs On Charter School Funding

Health Care

What if Congress Passed the “TV Mandate”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 9, 2012

A friend of mine recently purchased a new flat screen TV, getting a no-interest loan for three years to finance it. He remarked in amazement at this wonder, noting he…

Media

Read More: What if Congress Passed the “TV Mandate”?

State Budget

Olympic Hurdles Grab for Gold in Pennsylvania Budget

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 3, 2012

This July signals the beginning and end of two feats requiring amazing determination, stamina and perseverance—the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics and the on-time passage of the Pennsylvania state…

Commentary

Read More: Olympic Hurdles Grab for Gold in Pennsylvania Budget

Education

Doubling of Education Spending a Myth?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 27, 2012

From 1996-97 to 2010-11, Pennsylvania public school spending increased 93.4 percent, according to state Department of Education data. Yet Rep. James Roebuck says this increase is a…

Media

Read More: Doubling of Education Spending a Myth?

Education

How Much Would School Choice Proposal Save?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 22, 2012

Reports from under the Capitol dome suggest an expansion of Pennsylvania’s successful Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) will be part…

Media

Read More: How Much Would School Choice Proposal Save?

State Budget

State Budget: Fireproofing the Economy or Throwing Gas on the Fire?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 18, 2012

Let’s pretend you’ve been financially struggling recently, have spent your savings and pushed off paying some of your bills. But here’s some good news: You have $500 in your checking…

Media

Read More: State Budget: Fireproofing the Economy or Throwing Gas on the Fire?

Public Union Democracy

Voters: Limit Government Spending!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 14, 2012

In a recent poll, Susquehanna Polling and Research asked 700 registered Pennsylvania voters if they would support limiting the growth of state government spending—legislation similar to the…

Media

Read More: Voters: Limit Government Spending!

Education

Who is to Blame for Schools’ Fiscal Woes?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 13, 2012

Many advocates of more tax dollars for education blame Gov. Corbett and “cuts” for budgetary woes in Philadelphia and Reading school districts. But these complaints belie the facts.   Over last…

Media

Read More: Who is to Blame for Schools’ Fiscal Woes?

Regulation

Money to Spend? See Where Your State Tax Dollars Go

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 11, 2012

Legislative leaders and Gov. Corbett have been negotiating a state budget and, according to the latest reports, are $233 million apart in terms of General Fund spending.  Why the…

Media

Read More: Money to Spend? See Where Your State Tax Dollars Go

Regulation

Gov Love Lifts Liquor Liberty!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 8, 2012

Gov. Tom Corbett announced his support for full liquor store privatization today on Dom Giordano’s radio show. Now it’s the legislature’s turn to develop a plan that will free…

Media

Read More: Gov Love Lifts Liquor Liberty!

Regulation

The Unseen Effect of Cracker Credits

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 5, 2012

Gov. Tom Corbett is reportedly pushing a targeted tax credit for Shell and other companies that locate an ethane processing plant—often called a “cracker” plant—in Pennsylvania. The credit would…

Media

Read More: The Unseen Effect of Cracker Credits