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.”
Follow Our Lead
Those seeking a return to fiscal sanity should take heart: Significant reforms are advancing at the state level that could spur a bottom-up course correction across the country—and Pennsylvania is…
Commentary
Read More: Follow Our LeadRegulation
We’ll Take Taxpayers’ $17 Million Subsidy & Move to China, Suckers
The Tribune Review reports that another Pennsylvania company is moving to China. A company that built saltwater-based battery systems at the former Sony Corp. plant near New Stanton will move to…
Media
Read More: We’ll Take Taxpayers’ $17 Million Subsidy & Move to China, SuckersState Budget
More Budget Scare Tactics
Gov. Wolf announced on Friday that he will delay $1.7 billion in payments to Medicaid providers (for a week) and to the public school employees' pension fund. The governor cited the General…
Media
Read More: More Budget Scare TacticsState Budget
Debunking the Claims of Gov. Wolf and His Special Interest Allies
A few misconceptions surrounding the House Republicans’ plan to balance the budget need to be corrected. First, the plan would redirect just 14 percent of the $9.3 billion…
Media
Read More: Debunking the Claims of Gov. Wolf and His Special Interest AlliesState Budget
The Numbers behind the Shadow Budget
Yesterday, a group of House Republicans unveiled a proposal to balance the state budget without borrowing or major tax increases. The crux of the plan relies on the use of $1.3…
Media
Read More: The Numbers behind the Shadow BudgetState Budget
Pennsylvania’s Fiscal Irresponsibility Bears Repeating
A critic, responding to my op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer, opines that I am repeating the “mantra” that lawmakers should control the growth of spending and avoid job-killing tax…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Fiscal Irresponsibility Bears RepeatingState Budget
Treasurer Playing Chicken with State Budget
In a news interview yesterday, State Treasurer Joe Torsella threatened that he won’t allow the state to borrow any more money to pay bills, unless the budget is balanced.
Media
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State Government Continues to Grow
As I pointed out last week, the total operating budget for Pennsylvania exceeds $80 billion. In addition to the $32 billion General Fund, the $49 billion “shadow budget” includes $28.7 billion…
Media
Read More: State Government Continues to GrowState Budget
Can Other Funds Help Balance the State Budget?
The total operating budget for the state exceeds $80 billion. In addition to the $32 billion General Fund, the “shadow budget” includes: $28.7 billion in federal funds, $4.7 billion in…
Media
Read More: Can Other Funds Help Balance the State Budget?State Budget
State Borrowing the Result of Overspending
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania State Treasurer and Auditor General approved a short term “STIP” loan to cover cash flow. For reference, you can see the GF balance on the…
Media
Read More: State Borrowing the Result of OverspendingHealth Care
Higher Liquor Prices Just the Latest Hit to Pennsylvania Families
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board announced it would be arbitrarily raising prices on 422 wine and liquor products. This increase is a result of the “liquor modernization” efforts—which have…
Media
Read More: Higher Liquor Prices Just the Latest Hit to Pennsylvania FamiliesState Budget
Is State Spending “Cut to the Bone”?
One of the justifications Gov. Wolf uses to raise taxes—for the fifth time in nine years—is that state government spending has been relatively restrained. This argument suggests that other…
Media
Read More: Is State Spending “Cut to the Bone”?State Budget
Cost of Proposed Tax Hikes: 3,600 Jobs Lost
The tax hikes included in the revenue plan passed by the Senate (26-24) and supported by Gov. Wolf amount to nearly $600 million in total new taxes for next…
Testimony
Read More: Cost of Proposed Tax Hikes: 3,600 Jobs Lost
Tax Hikes Won’t Fix Deficit, Reforms Will
Tax hikes won’t fix the structural deficit. We just raised taxes last year, having a devastating impact on vape shops, and have raised taxes four times in the last…
Media
Read More: Tax Hikes Won’t Fix Deficit, Reforms WillState Budget
Op-Ed: Should Pennsylvanians Pay More for The Walking Dead?
Thanks to last year’s state budget, you’re paying more to watch House of Cards. This year, The Walking Dead—and a host of other cable TV shows—could cost you more, too. …
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Should Pennsylvanians Pay More for The Walking Dead?
Here’s How a Tax-Increasing Budget Destroys Jobs
Gov. Tom Wolf, some Harrisburg lawmakers, and government union leaders and lobbyists continue to demand higher taxes on working families. These include potential taxes on families' cable bills, homeowners' heat bills, restaurant patrons' bar tabs,…
Media
Read More: Here’s How a Tax-Increasing Budget Destroys Jobs
Overspending, Not Undertaxing, Created PA Budget Deficit
Why does Pennsylvania have a state budget deficit? Simple: Overspending. If the state had grown spending by the rate of inflation and population growth over the last three years, the…
Media
Read More: Overspending, Not Undertaxing, Created PA Budget DeficitState Budget
Lawmakers’ Choices: Higher Taxes or Real Reform
Half the state budget is done: the spending list. The Pennsylvania House and Senate passed a general appropriations bill on Friday. But the other half—how to pay for it—remains. The…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers’ Choices: Higher Taxes or Real ReformRegulation
What to Know about the Senate Budget
Late last night, the Senate unveiled its version of the spending side of a state budget. The Senate advanced the bill from the Appropriations Committee with a full floor vote…
Media
Read More: What to Know about the Senate BudgetState Budget
PA Budget: What the Constitution Mandates
As lawmakers debate the details of a new state budget, it’s crucial to remember what our state constitution requires them to do. The Pennsylvania Constitution does not require a…
Media
Read More: PA Budget: What the Constitution MandatesState Budget
Stop Calling for Higher Taxes
In comments at the Pennsylvania Press Club yesterday, Sen. Jay Costa addressed the state deficit and called for tax increases. Costa said, “A year from now, someone will be standing…
Media
Read More: Stop Calling for Higher Taxes