Nathan Benefield
Chief Policy Officer
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.”
Education
Curt Schroder Offers Universal School Voucher Bill
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 BillEducation
How Taxpayers are Funding Big Labor’s Education Failures
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 FailuresPublic Union Democracy
Shippensburg Asks for Prevailing Wage Relief
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 ReliefTaxes & Economy
Fracking Friday
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 FridayEducation
Pennsylvania Education Spending Update
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 UpdateRegulation
The Phony “Surplus”
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
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 VotersTaxes & Economy
WITF Marcellus Forum Viewers Guide
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 GuideTaxes & Economy
What’s the Difference Between a Tax and a Fee?
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
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 EducationEducation
Oh Yeah, Those Guys
My letter to the Philadelphia Daily News: Will Bunch’s recent article identifies wealthy Americans who are voluntary donating their money to push greater school choice. Bunch fails…
Media
Read More: Oh Yeah, Those GuysState Budget
Is Gas Drilling Behind the Surplus?
A reader asks if natural gas drilling is behind April’s higher than estimated tax revenues — what legislators are now calling a “budget surplus.” It would be difficult to definitively make that claim,…
Media
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Coalition Says “Not” to NAT GAS Act
A coalition of groups, including the Commonwealth Foundation, sent a letter to members of Congress opposing the NAT GAS Act. The NAT GAS Act (similar to the state-level “Marcellus…
Media
Read More: Coalition Says “Not” to NAT GAS ActTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania Not Among Best States for Business
Chief Executive Group released its annual Best/Worst States for Business report, bestowing another undesirable state ranking on Pennsylvania. The commonwealth ranked 39th out of the 50 states, dropping seven…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Not Among Best States for Business
“Is Fracking Safe” from Stossel
Here is the video of Matt Brouillette (alongside former Pennsylvania DEP Secretary John Hanger) on last night’s episode of Stossel. Watch the latest video at <a…
Media
Read More: “Is Fracking Safe” from StosselState Budget
PA House GOP Outlines Budget Proposal
The House Republicans unveiled their Pennsylvania State Budget Proposal yesterday, HB 1485. The bill is set for an Appropriations Committee vote this week, and a full House vote…
Media
Read More: PA House GOP Outlines Budget ProposalRegulation
A Penny Saved or a Penny Burned?
For any family, saving a few dollars for the future and paying off credit card bills would be the fiscally prudent path. Likewise, state lawmakers should resist the temptation to…
Commentary
Read More: A Penny Saved or a Penny Burned?Education
PA House Passes Expansion of Scholarship Tax Credit
The Pennsylvania House today passed, on a 190-7 vote, HB 1330, which would expand the amount of tax credits available through Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC), and increase income…
Media
Read More: PA House Passes Expansion of Scholarship Tax CreditEducation
Of School Choice and Government-Run Swimming Pools
Responding to a letter I wrote, a letter in the Allentown Morning Call attempts to make the case that school vouchers are a bad idea—using the rationale that…
Media
Read More: Of School Choice and Government-Run Swimming Pools
Should Government be Required to Advertise in Newspapers?
We were recently asked to sign onto a letter opposing HB 633, legislation which would allow local governments to post public notices online, rather than buy advertisements in local…
Media
Read More: Should Government be Required to Advertise in Newspapers?Education
On School Spending “Cuts”
A reader writes in, noting that a school board member is pushing the “stop the billion dollar cut” campaign, and asking for some info. Here are some quick facts.
Media
Read More: On School Spending “Cuts”