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.”

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

Government Accountability

Pa. Teachers Forced to Pay for Wisconsin Politics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 5, 2012

Want to find out how the Pennsylvania State Education Association is spending teachers’ dues?  You chould check out the state of Wisconsin’s campaign finance disclosure site. That’s right, the…

Media

Read More: Pa. Teachers Forced to Pay for Wisconsin Politics

Regulation

Senate Seeks to End Generational Theft

  • Nathan Benefield, Richard Dreyfuss
  • May 31, 2012

This week, Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne, Sen. Mike Brubaker, Senate Appropriations Chair Jake Corman, and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi announced plans to introduce pension reform legislation. The…

Media

Read More: Senate Seeks to End Generational Theft

State Budget

Appropriations Chair Endorses Spending Limits

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 31, 2012

Last week in his remarks at the Pennsylvania Press Club, Sen. Jake Corman endorsed the idea of spending limits for Pennsylvania state government. Corman expressed support for Sen. Mike Folmer’s proposed…

Media

Read More: Appropriations Chair Endorses Spending Limits

Education

Readers Ask, We Answer: Education Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 30, 2012

A reader asked us to help clarify the claims of Yinzercation blog on state education subsidies. The blogger claims the Corbett administration is being disingenuous about state K-12 education…

Media

Read More: Readers Ask, We Answer: Education Spending

Education

$27B + $15K = What?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 29, 2012

The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently released school financial data for the 2010-11 school year. The latest data shows public school spending and revenue increased yet again in 2011,…

Media

Read More: $27B + $15K = What?

Public Union Democracy

The Booze Business is a Lose Business for Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 24, 2012

I heard on the radio this week another ridiculous ad against allowing retail stores to sell wine or liquor, funded by UFCW dues to play on stations across…

Media

Read More: The Booze Business is a Lose Business for Taxpayers

Public Union Democracy

Pennsylvania’s Pension Iceberg

  • Nathan Benefield, Richard Dreyfuss
  • May 21, 2012

Laura Olson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a story on the crisis in Pennsylvania’s public pensions, and Gov. Corbett injecting pension reform into the budget discussion: Even with…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Pension Iceberg

Education

Chart: School District Fund Balances Nearly Tripled in 14 Years

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 17, 2012

PA Independent reported on Monday that Pennsylvania school districts’ fund balances reached $3.2 billion in 2011 (they compiled the data from the PA Department of Education’s (PDE)…

Media

Read More: Chart: School District Fund Balances Nearly Tripled in 14 Years

Regulation

Taxpayers Screaming at PLCB Waste

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 17, 2012

Another day, another story of waste at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. ABC 27’s Dennis Owens reports on the PLCB buying extravagant wine, then selling it at a discount…

Media

Read More: Taxpayers Screaming at PLCB Waste

State Budget

State Budget vs Spending Limits

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 14, 2012

Last week, the Pennsylvania State Senate passed a budget representing $27.66 in General Fund spending. How does that stack up against inflation and population growth? If…

Media

Read More: State Budget vs Spending Limits