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.”

Regulation

Fact of the Day: Liquor Store Density

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 18, 2011

Rep. Mike Turzai’s proposal (HB 11) to allow private retailers to sell wine and spirits would approximately double the number of liquor stores (not including wine kiosks and wineries)…

Media

Read More: Fact of the Day: Liquor Store Density

Regulation

Brief Summary of Liquor Freedom Bill

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 13, 2011

Today, Rep. Mike Turzai, along with a number of House Republicans, unveiled legislation to end the government monopoly on wine and liquor sales, and provide adult consumers liberty to…

Media

Read More: Brief Summary of Liquor Freedom Bill

Regulation

Turnpike Tolls Totally to Transit?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 12, 2011

Amid all the budget turmoil, PA Independent notes the Governor’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission is looking to use tolls on Turnpike drivers—those going to the state as part of…

Media

Read More: Turnpike Tolls Totally to Transit?

Education

Corbett’s First Inning Scorecard

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 6, 2011

July signals the coming of two breaks in Pennsylvania—Major League Baseball's All-Star break and the end of the state budget season.   Having endured his first budget as the commonwealth's chief…

Commentary

Read More: Corbett’s First Inning Scorecard

State Budget

Pennsylvania’s $1.9 Billion Budget Shortfall

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 1, 2011

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released preliminary FY 2010-11 revenue collection. Their statement says: Fiscal year 2010-11 General Fund collections totaled $27.5 billion, which is $785.5 million,…

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania’s $1.9 Billion Budget Shortfall

Education

Are Tuition Hikes Forced by Cuts in State Subsidies?

  • Charles Mitchell, Nathan Benefield
  • June 30, 2011

Today, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) voted to raise tuition by 7.5 percent for 2011-12.  Many have tried to place the blame solely on the reduction…

Media

Read More: Are Tuition Hikes Forced by Cuts in State Subsidies?

Education

University Subsidy Bills Nixed, What Now?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 28, 2011

Last night, Pennsylvania House Democrats voted to defeat legislation on state subsidies for Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Temple University, as well as for…

Media

Read More: University Subsidy Bills Nixed, What Now?

Education

Do Seven Rapes Get Your Attention?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 27, 2011

Today, CF delivered Life Savers to state legislators to remind them they still have three days to be a life-saver for kids in failing and violent schools.  One…

Media

Read More: Do Seven Rapes Get Your Attention?

Education

Saving Harrisburg?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 27, 2011

In their efforts to “save Harrisburg” through a state takeover should the city fail to adopt Act 47 recommendations, lawmakers have overlooked one extremly effective option: school choice. Despite state…

Media

Read More: Saving Harrisburg?

Education

Give Voters a Say on School Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 23, 2011

Five years ago, state lawmakers passed Act 1 to provide property tax relief and give voters a voice on school tax increases.  But since slot machine gambling was introduced in…

Commentary

Read More: Give Voters a Say on School Taxes

Regulation

Growing Greener is Corporate Welfare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 22, 2011

The Patriot News editorial board has yet another editorial arguing for a new tax on natural gas, on top of the taxes they already pay. While the board’s passion…

Media

Read More: Growing Greener is Corporate Welfare

Education

Curt Schroder Offers Universal School Voucher Bill

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 16, 2011

State Rep. Curt Schroder has also outlined two school choice bills he plans to introduce in the Pennsylvania House in the very near future. One is targeted to students in…

Media

Read More: Curt Schroder Offers Universal School Voucher Bill

Education

How Taxpayers are Funding Big Labor’s Education Failures

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • June 16, 2011

More than $92 million in taxpayer dollars for public education is being funneled through school districts back to these special interest groups, including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and…

Commentary

Read More: How Taxpayers are Funding Big Labor’s Education Failures

Public Union Democracy

Shippensburg Asks for Prevailing Wage Relief

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 14, 2011

Shippensburg Borough Council recently passed a resolution asking for state relief from prevailing wage mandates.  Prevailing wage mandates were imposed 50 years ago in Pennsylvania, following federal Davis-Bacon Act…

Media

Read More: Shippensburg Asks for Prevailing Wage Relief

Taxes & Economy

Fracking Friday

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 10, 2011

There are several good articles and studies worth reading on natural gas drilling, Marcellus Shale and fracking: Katrina’s commentary on the local impact of natural gas drilling appears in today’s…

Media

Read More: Fracking Friday

Education

Pennsylvania Education Spending Update

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 6, 2011

Since our budget facts on Pennsylvania Education Spending, the PA Department of Education (PDE) has released updated data on school spending and revenue, through the 2009-10 school year.

Media

Read More: Pennsylvania Education Spending Update

Regulation

The Phony “Surplus”

  • Nathan Benefield, Richard Dreyfuss
  • June 2, 2011

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released May General Fund tax collection data, and many lawmakers are clamoring to spend this “surplus”. But the idea there is any “surplus” is…

Media

Read More: The Phony “Surplus”

Education

Make the Case to Voters

  • Nathan Benefield
  • June 1, 2011

My letter to the editor in today’s Post-Gazette on school tax referendum. The article “Groups Fighting…

Media

Read More: Make the Case to Voters

Taxes & Economy

WITF Marcellus Forum Viewers Guide

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 31, 2011

Tonight at 8 p.m., WITF TV will air an hour-long “Marcellus Shale Forum”. While the discussion should be informative for most viewers wanting to learn about the Marcellus Shale…

Media

Read More: WITF Marcellus Forum Viewers Guide

Taxes & Economy

What’s the Difference Between a Tax and a Fee?

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • May 31, 2011

The latest media narrative this week seems to be that Americans for Tax Reform’s Grover Norquist is controlling Pennsylvania lawmakers, by stating that a proposed “impact fee” is a…

Media

Read More: What’s the Difference Between a Tax and a Fee?

Education

Questions for Appropriators on Higher Education

  • Nathan Benefield
  • May 27, 2011

Since Gov. Corbett presented a budget which reduced state taxpayer funding for institutions including Penn State, Temple, Pitt, and the State System of Higher Education, college administrators, faculty and lobbyists…

Media

Read More: Questions for Appropriators on Higher Education