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.”

State Budget

Chart of the Day: General Fund Spending and Revenue

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 9, 2012

Yesterday, the Pa. Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a budget (the full Senate is expected to vote on it today) that includes $27.65 billion in General Fund spending. Unfortunately, this…

Media

Read More: Chart of the Day: General Fund Spending and Revenue

State Budget

Why Pennsylvania Needs Spending Limits

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 8, 2012

In a Capitolwire story (subscription), Senate Appropriations Chair Jake Corman notes that the proposed version of the state budget the Senate will take up this week increases spending by…

Media

Read More: Why Pennsylvania Needs Spending Limits

State Budget

This is the Change You’ve Been Looking For

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 7, 2012

I had the opportunity to hear Scott Rasmussen speak last week. The theme of his speech was “change”—as in how policy change happens. The lesson he gave was that policy…

Media

Read More: This is the Change You’ve Been Looking For

State Budget

GAO Sounds the Fiscal Alarm on State Medicaid Costs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 26, 2012

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has a new report on state and local government finances. Of greatest concern are the expected increases in Medicaid spending and health care for…

Media

Read More: GAO Sounds the Fiscal Alarm on State Medicaid Costs

Education

Chart of the Day: Pennsylvania School Revenue per Student

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 23, 2012

Critics of state spending cuts claim there is a lack of funding for public schools. But from the 1995-96 school year through 2009-10 (the latest year with data available…

Media

Read More: Chart of the Day: Pennsylvania School Revenue per Student

Government Accountability

The Left’s Latest Witch Hunt

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 20, 2012

The Wall Street Journal and Pennsylvania Independent both feature stories about attacks from leftist groups against the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The free-market association of state lawmakers…

Media

Read More: The Left’s Latest Witch Hunt

Public Union Democracy

Union Party Speaks: Defend Union Agenda

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 16, 2012

We’ve mentioned many times that the real party controlling the Pennsylvania legislature is not the Republican Party, but rather the Union Party. Today, in a story by the Pittsburgh…

Media

Read More: Union Party Speaks: Defend Union Agenda

State Budget

Chart of the Day: Pennsylvania State Debt Payments

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 12, 2012

The chart of the day shows the growth in Pennsylvania General Fund Debt service over the past decade: from $350 million in fiscal year 2002-03 to $1.1 billion in Gov.

Media

Read More: Chart of the Day: Pennsylvania State Debt Payments

Government Accountability

Think Government Union Dues aren’t Used for Politics? Think Again

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 10, 2012

Government unions often defend their dues—and the fact that taxpayers subsidize the collection of dues—by claiming dues cannot be used for politics. That is not the case. Union dues cannot…

Media

Read More: Think Government Union Dues aren’t Used for Politics? Think Again

Regulation

Schools Get Property Tax Referendum Exemptions for Pension Costs

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 4, 2012

Last year, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed, and Gov. Corbett signed, legislation reducing the number of exemptions to the school tax referendum requirement. But as noted this…

Media

Read More: Schools Get Property Tax Referendum Exemptions for Pension Costs

State Budget

Do Government Programs Grow the Economy?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 29, 2012

While decades of increased government spending have resulted in economic stagnation, many advocates of increasing government spending claim that their favored program will “grow the economy.” They argue that…

Media

Read More: Do Government Programs Grow the Economy?

Education

School Choice in Milwaukee Increases Graduation Rates

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 27, 2012

The latest analysis of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program finds that students receiving scholarships to attend the school of their choice are more likely to graduate from high…

Media

Read More: School Choice in Milwaukee Increases Graduation Rates

Criminal Justice Reform

Does School Choice Reduce Crime?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 22, 2012

Yesterday, Charles noted a key Wall Street Journal piece on a Council of Foreign Relations report. That report concluded that educational failure is dangerous for our national security and…

Media

Read More: Does School Choice Reduce Crime?

Education

No School Tax Referendums in Pennsylvania this Year

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • March 21, 2012

Remember the gnashing of teeth over “cuts” in state education subsidies (driven by the end of federal stimulus money)? The education establishment and partisan critics of Gov. Corbett insisted this…

Media

Read More: No School Tax Referendums in Pennsylvania this Year

State Budget

Chart of the Day: Pennsylvania Operating Budget since 1970

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 16, 2012

Pennsylvania’s total state operating budget increased for 40 consecutive years before being reduced last year.  The cumulative increase of 151 percent—adjusted for inflation—represents more than $12,000 per family of four…

Media

Read More: Chart of the Day: Pennsylvania Operating Budget since 1970

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s Fork in the Road on Transportation Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 14, 2012

Motorists frustrated with high gas prices should be on the alert—your pain at the pump could get worse, and it has nothing to do with Middle East tensions or gas…

Commentary

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Fork in the Road on Transportation Spending

Government Accountability

National Popular Vote: Radical Shift in Elections

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 13, 2012

Yesterday, the House Republic Policy Committee held a hearing on National Popular Vote (NPV). If passed, Pennsylvania would join a compact of states agreeing to award their electoral votes…

Media

Read More: National Popular Vote: Radical Shift in Elections

Education

Does Underfunding Pensions “Help the Kids”?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 9, 2012

A letter I recently submitted to the Allentown Morning Call on state education subsidies and pension funding: The Morning Call’s article on state subsidies to school districts has…

Media

Read More: Does Underfunding Pensions “Help the Kids”?

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania Businesses Face the Highest Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 1, 2012

A new study from the Tax Foundation finds that mature Pennsylvania businesses are the highest taxed in the nation. Newly established operations in the commonwealth are the second highest taxed,…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Businesses Face the Highest Taxes

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvania’s Once-Great Cities

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 23, 2012

If you missed it, ReasonTV put out a great video on the city of Harrisburg’s fiscal disaster, asking whether Harrisburg’s nightmare is America’s Future. Much of what…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s Once-Great Cities