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.”

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

Public Union Democracy

Who Would Oppose Reforming a Costly, Unnecessary Law?

  • Nathan Benefield, Priya Brannick
  • February 14, 2012

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives may vote today on a bill to reform the 1961 prevailing wage mandate.  The prevailing wage requires government to pay higher wages and benefits for…

Media

Read More: Who Would Oppose Reforming a Costly, Unnecessary Law?

Health Care

CF Joins More than 400 State Lawmakers in Brief on Health Care Law

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 14, 2012

The Commonwealth Foundation joined 17 other organizations and 333 state legislators from across the country in an amicus curiae brief challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act passed…

Media

Read More: CF Joins More than 400 State Lawmakers in Brief on Health Care Law

Taxes & Economy

PA House Roll Call Vote on Marcellus Shale Billl

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 9, 2012

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House passed the HB 1950 Conference Committee Report by a 101-90 margin with 99 Republicans and 2 Democrats FOR it and 10 Republicans and 80 Democrats AGAINST…

Media

Read More: PA House Roll Call Vote on Marcellus Shale Billl

State Budget

5 Facts about Gov. Corbett’s Budget Proposal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 8, 2012

Here are five things everyone should know about Gov. Corbett’s proposed Pennsylvania state budget. Reduces overall spending. Both the General Fund and the total operating budgethave been cut – for…

Media

Read More: 5 Facts about Gov. Corbett’s Budget Proposal

State Budget

Fireproofing Pennsylvania’s Economy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 8, 2012

It doesn't take a crystal ball to see that without swift action Pennsylvania's fiscal house will soon burst into flames. State lawmakers have adequate warning about the threats to our…

Commentary

Read More: Fireproofing Pennsylvania’s Economy

Taxes & Economy

Largest Growth in Pennsylvania Private Sector Jobs Since 1999

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 3, 2012

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has updated their employment data by state through the end of 2011 (subject to revision). Looking at December job data (“not seasonally adjusted”) over…

Media

Read More: Largest Growth in Pennsylvania Private Sector Jobs Since 1999

Welfare

Yes, Welfare is for Poor People

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2012

The Department of Public Welfare announced its plan to impose an asset test for food stamp recipients. The proposal would limit food stamps to most households with under $5,500…

Media

Read More: Yes, Welfare is for Poor People

Regulation

Corporate Welfare Not Needed to Get a Cracker

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 31, 2012

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Pennsylvania lawmakers are pushing a special tax deal to attract a “cracker” plant to the state. The proposed Shell cracker—which breaks down natural gas…

Media

Read More: Corporate Welfare Not Needed to Get a Cracker

Taxes & Economy

The “Facts” on Food Stamps

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • January 31, 2012

City Paper contributor Daniel Denvir tries to diminish the impact of our Philadelphia Inquirer column on food stamps by offering “facts” in rebuttal. Unfortunately, most of these “facts”…

Media

Read More: The “Facts” on Food Stamps

Education

Year of School Choice…and Beyond

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 27, 2012

The Alliance for School Choice released its latest School Choice Yearbook highlighting the developments in school choice in 2011, as well as each of the programs in the United…

Media

Read More: Year of School Choice…and Beyond

Government Accountability

Does Pennsylvania Need Fewer Legislators?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 26, 2012

A proposal to reduce the Pennsylvania State House from 203 representatives to 153 will be voted on in the coming weeks by the House. The proposal is certainly…

Media

Read More: Does Pennsylvania Need Fewer Legislators?