Erik Telford
Senior Vice President of Public Affairs
Erik Telford is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the Commonwealth Foundation.
Erik is a senior public affairs and communications executive with more than 15 years of diverse experience across public policy, advocacy, and public affairs institutions. Before joining the Commonwealth Foundation, Erik served as the senior vice president at Stand Together Communications, the Koch network’s marketing and communications capability. Erik has also served as the president of the Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity, a state-based watchdog journalism organization. And at Americans for Prosperity, he was the executive director of RightOnline (an initiative he founded) and the director of membership and online strategy. He is currently on the board of the American Commitment Foundation.
In 2013, Campaigns & Elections Magazine honored Erik as an “Advocacy Innovator” and in 2011 as a “Rising Star in American Politics.” Politics Online named him one of the “Top 10 Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics.”
Education
What Do France, Hungary and Pennsylvania Have in Common?
A Hungarian, a Frenchman and a Pennsylvanian walk into a bar…okay, so they may not have the same tastes in beer, but turns out they would have the same ability…
Media
Read More: What Do France, Hungary and Pennsylvania Have in Common?Taxes & Economy
Estimating Marcellus Shale’s Economic Impact
A new study from Penn State’s Marcellus Shale Education & Training Center estimates that natural gas drilling in Marcellus Shale created 24,000 jobs in Pennsylvania and added $3.1 billion…
Media
Read More: Estimating Marcellus Shale’s Economic ImpactRegulation
Preserving Penn’s Woods Proven by Public-Private Partnerships
Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Corbett suggested the commonwealth consider leasing state park operations and services. Almost immediately and without thoughtful consideration, pundits launched political fire, claiming "privateers" would exploit…
Commentary
Read More: Preserving Penn’s Woods Proven by Public-Private Partnerships
State liquor stores’ profit misses state budget target
Media Hit
Read More: State liquor stores’ profit misses state budget targetTaxes & Economy
Alternative Energy Mandates Make Consumers Pay More for Electricity
This month, the PUC released its latest annual report evaluating Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards. The report shows renewable energy continues to take more out of taxpayer's…
Media
Read More: Alternative Energy Mandates Make Consumers Pay More for ElectricityTaxes & Economy
Hiding the Decline of Academic and Scientific Transparency
That’s what University of Virginia continues to do, as my colleague at American Tradition Institute Chris Horner explains today in Washington Examiner. Earlier this week…
Media
Read More: Hiding the Decline of Academic and Scientific TransparencyTaxes & Economy
Scorecard: Toomey Scores, Casey Fumbles for Pa.
Yesterday, Heritage Action released its legislative scorecard for all members of the 112th U.S. Congress. The scorecard can be searched by name, state or even zip code. Current…
Media
Read More: Scorecard: Toomey Scores, Casey Fumbles for Pa.Education
Teacher Strikes
Good afternoon, my name is Pearre Dean and I am Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s free-market think tank that crafts free-market policies, convinces Pennsylvanians of…
Testimony
Read More: Teacher StrikesTaxes & Economy
Marcellus Shale Local Impact Fee
Good evening. I am Elizabeth Stelle, a Policy Analyst for the Commonwealth Foundation. We are Pennsylvania’s free market think that crafts and promotes free-market policies based on guiding principles like…
Testimony
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Wealthy liberals target new drilling techniques
Media Hit
Read More: Wealthy liberals target new drilling techniquesTaxes & Economy
Gov. Corbett’s Budget Guidelines Include Privatizing Yellow Pages, Streamlining
An Administrative Circular sent to state agencies this month outlines Gov. Tom Corbett’s expectation for his 2012-13 Executive Budget. Recognizing the state will be faced with fiscal challenges…
Media
Read More: Gov. Corbett’s Budget Guidelines Include Privatizing Yellow Pages, Streamlining
Marcellus Co-Op members discuss impact fees
Media Hit
Read More: Marcellus Co-Op members discuss impact feesEducation
The Real Crime in Philadelphia’s School District
Last year, we blogged on the hefty $65,000 bonus Philadelphia’s Superintendent Arlene Ackerman collected. Her annual base salary, $348,140, was higher than what superintendents collect in New York City,…
Media
Read More: The Real Crime in Philadelphia’s School District
Walmart Waives Wistful Wine Waste
It appears the wistful wine wizards who wished to foist the fermented farce of their conniving kiosk caper have been brought a big blow to their Big…
Media
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Green Light More Education Tax Credits
Would you ever give a green light or a hard-earned nickel to a business model that showed it was going to hire more staff to service fewer customers by doubling…
Commentary
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NSF: Mann acted appropriately
Topics on this page National Science Foundation…
Media Hit
Read More: NSF: Mann acted appropriatelyPublic Union Democracy
When Union Bosses Make Stuff Up, We Offer Facts
In a story by PA Independent, AFL-CIO head honcho Rick Bloomingdale attempts to deny the incredible job growth in right-to-work states like Texas. Bloomingdale comments: “Most likely, the…
Media
Read More: When Union Bosses Make Stuff Up, We Offer Facts
What’s Up With Those Wine Kiosk Machines?
Media Hit
Read More: What’s Up With Those Wine Kiosk Machines?Taxes & Economy
EPA Regs Kill PA Jobs
Cap and Trade may be officially dead in Congress but the EPA is busy resurrecting it in a far more disastrous policy agenda that kills thousands of Pennsylvania jobs and…
Media
Read More: EPA Regs Kill PA JobsTaxes & Economy
Marcellus Drilling not Increasing Local Government Costs
A new study from the Marcellus Shale Center for Outreach and Research at Penn State provides an analysis of the cost to local government from Marcells Shale drilling. With…
Media
Read More: Marcellus Drilling not Increasing Local Government Costs