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.”

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?

Education

School Choice: The ABC’s

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 23, 2012

In time for National School Choice Week, the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice released its 2012 ABC’s of School Choice. The new guide gives an overview of what…

Media

Read More: School Choice: The ABC’s

Criminal Justice Reform

Fiscal Outlook for Pennsylvania: Not Too Rosy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 20, 2012

This week the new Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office held its first annual seminar on the state economy and revenue. After a series of presentations on the state of the…

Media

Read More: Fiscal Outlook for Pennsylvania: Not Too Rosy

State Budget

Turnpike Commission Defends Ballooning Debt

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 11, 2012

Following our post yesterday, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission wanted to make sure we saw their response to Auditor General Jack Wagner’s warning on their growing debt. The Turnpike…

Media

Read More: Turnpike Commission Defends Ballooning Debt

Taxes & Economy

Chart of the Day: Pennsylvania Transportation Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 9, 2012

Many advocates and industry representatives have been calling for increasing transportation spending in Pennsylvania. Yet over the past 16 years, state transportation spending has increased by 127 percent, a fact…

Media

Read More: Chart of the Day: Pennsylvania Transportation Spending

State Budget

Pennsylvania Budget Freezes in Perspective

  • Nathan Benefield
  • January 5, 2012

Yesterday, Gov. Corbett and the Office of the Budget released a list of 2011-12 budgetary freezes—reductions in spending from the enacted General Fund budget—due in part to revenue shortfalls. I…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Freezes in Perspective

Government Accountability

Top 10 Posts of 2011

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 30, 2011

For your “year in review” pleasure, here are the most popular CF articles and research papers of 2011, based on readership: Citizens Guide to Electric Choice and Competition…

Media

Read More: Top 10 Posts of 2011

Taxes & Economy

PA Online Sales Tax Guidelines Claim First Casualty

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 30, 2011

When the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue issued a new bulletin instructing online vendors about collecting state sales tax, tax reform advocates expressed a lot of concern. The new…

Media

Read More: PA Online Sales Tax Guidelines Claim First Casualty

Taxes & Economy

Tax-Exempt Government Property Adds to Harrisburg’s Woes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 29, 2011

The city of Harrisburg is facing a fiscal crisis primarily brought on by over-spending, accruing too much debt, and getting into areas government has no business—from the incinerator to owning…

Media

Read More: Tax-Exempt Government Property Adds to Harrisburg’s Woes

Taxes & Economy

Map: PA Among Highest Unemployment Tax Rates

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 28, 2011

The Tax Foundation has a new map showing unemployment insurance tax rates. As you can see, Pennsylvania has one of the highest tax rates in the nation. The unemployment…

Media

Read More: Map: PA Among Highest Unemployment Tax Rates

Government Accountability

Redistricting Reform Needed…Four Years Ago

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 20, 2011

The Pennsylvania House is expected this week to to pass the Congressional redistricting bill. House Democrats, in the minority, are complaining about the gerrymandering of the new map.

Media

Read More: Redistricting Reform Needed…Four Years Ago