Nathan Benefield
Senior Vice President
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
Op-Ed: Pennsylvanians can’t afford Biden’s multi-trillion tax-and-spend plan
With the legislative sausage-making now underway, it’s likely Pennsylvanians would find the menu of specific tax hikes distasteful.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Pennsylvanians can’t afford Biden’s multi-trillion tax-and-spend plan
Op-Ed: Pa. lawmakers can end educational chaos by passing HB 1
Educational choice policies like those in the Excellent Education for all Act (House Bill 1) empower parents.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Pa. lawmakers can end educational chaos by passing HB 1
Op-Ed: Empower Parents, Not Union Leaders
Originally published at RealClearEducation Earlier this year, the New York Post revealed that the American Federation of Teachers – one of America’s two national teachers’ unions – had…
Media
Read More: Op-Ed: Empower Parents, Not Union Leaders
Gov. Wolf Contradicts Himself, Implements School Mask Mandate
Today, Gov. Tom Wolf announced that his administration will implement a mask mandate for all public and private schools and daycare facilities in the commonwealth despite having repeatedly stated that…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Contradicts Himself, Implements School Mask Mandate
Op-Ed: Limited government can make a comeback
For advocates of limited government, it’s easy to feel like the fight is over and the country is on the path to fiscal ruin. But such pessimism is unwarranted.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Limited government can make a comeback
Op-Ed: Limited Government Can Make a Comeback in Pandemic Era
States like Pennsylvania are also pushing against unbridled gubernatorial powers. In the past, Republicans and Democrats criticized executive overreach when the opposing party was in power. Both parties, however, rarely…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Limited Government Can Make a Comeback in Pandemic EraState Budget
2021 Budget Takeaways
Last week, the Pa. General Assembly passed a state budget deal that includes $40 billion in the General Fund budget, increases in tax credit scholarships, and a number of policy…
Fact Sheet
Read More: 2021 Budget Takeaways
Op-Ed: PA Gov. Attacks Lawmakers’ Sensible Election Reforms
Wolf is also ignoring new polling from Franklin & Marshall College, which shows that Pennsylvania voters believe election reform is necessary. Among voters polled, 81% favor signature matching for mail-in ballots…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: PA Gov. Attacks Lawmakers’ Sensible Election Reforms
Op-Ed: With $7 billion windfall, Pa. should focus on jobs, students
With this budget, lawmakers should enact policies that help our citizens find work and ensure that every kid has access to a high-quality education.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: With $7 billion windfall, Pa. should focus on jobs, students
Op-Ed: Fight Against PA Guv’s Powers Reflects Bipartisan Trend
The Pennsylvania General Assembly’s efforts to restrict Wolf’s emergency declaration – renewed four times – has reached its endgame in the form of two constitutional amendments in a statewide voter…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Fight Against PA Guv’s Powers Reflects Bipartisan Trend
Op-Ed: Voters can limit the power of the governor on May 18
Pennsylvanians can’t allow Wolf to wield such powers over our communities without working alongside the Legislature.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Voters can limit the power of the governor on May 18
Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Doesn’t Have a Friend in Tom Wolf
As Pennsylvanians suffer under Wolf’s leadership, they will have a chance to force the governor to work with the legislature. This May, voters will get a say on a state…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Doesn’t Have a Friend in Tom Wolf
Op-Ed: Ignore Wolf’s small business tax hike. Pass a budget that cares for kids and communities
From small businesses to education, the General Assembly should enact policies that challenge Wolf’s harmful ideas. His policy agenda would leave a legacy of more government spending, higher unemployment, and…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Ignore Wolf’s small business tax hike. Pass a budget that cares for kids and communitiesState Budget
Three Takeaways on Gov. Wolf’s 2021 Budget
Our commonwealth faces a structural budget deficit. Families need education lifelines to get back on track. Small businesses need regulatory and tax relief to stay afloat. Patients need more options to access care.
Commentary
Read More: Three Takeaways on Gov. Wolf’s 2021 Budget
Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Will Reflect Voter Mood During Biden Presidency
In other words, suburban voters favor moderation – as the election results showed. But despite his campaign persona, Biden may already be inching closer to leftist economic policies. As Axios…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Will Reflect Voter Mood During Biden Presidency
Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Passes the Buck on State Budget
Wolf and the legislature didn’t consider these eventualities when they completed the budget. Instead, during this bleak holiday season, they set up struggling families for a bigger tax bill next…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Passes the Buck on State BudgetTaxes & Economy
Crucial Reforms Needed in End-of-Year Budget
The recently completed state budget will dig Pennsylvania into a deep hole. Lawmakers passed a 7.5% increase in spending. The General Fund budget, including billions in one-time federal funds, is $36.54 billion—up from $33.98 billion last…
Media
Read More: Crucial Reforms Needed in End-of-Year Budget
Op-Ed: Don’t raise taxes while PA families are hurting
Months into this severe pandemic response, the economy is slowly recovering, as are state revenues, but lawmakers face a budget shortfall of at least $3 billion, according to the Independent Fiscal Office’s…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Don’t raise taxes while PA families are hurting
Op-Ed: Learning from Pennsylvania’s Election Chaos
We shouldn’t rely on courts to fix Pennsylvania’s election issues. Instead, changes to election timelines and processes should be enacted by the state legislature, not through executive actions or court…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Learning from Pennsylvania’s Election Chaos
Op-Ed: The Tax Bill Benefitted All Pennsylvanians. Will that Matter on Election Day?
To be sure, these numbers preceded the COVID-19 pandemic and economic lockdowns, which devastated job growth and earnings. Pennsylvania hit its lowest unemployment rate ever in 2019, but then skyrocketed to…
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: The Tax Bill Benefitted All Pennsylvanians. Will that Matter on Election Day?
More from the Senate Education Committee Hearing
When schools closed last spring—and with many still not fully open—parents across Pennsylvania have seen their children lose ground while having to pick up the additional costs of at-home education.
Commentary
Read More: More from the Senate Education Committee Hearing