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.”
Regulation
A Half-Billion Saved is a Half-Billion Earned
After April’s General Fund tax collections came in at 9 percent above forecasts, some lawmakers are clamoring to spend any surplus Pennsylvania has at the end of the…
Media
Read More: A Half-Billion Saved is a Half-Billion EarnedTaxes & Economy
Natural Gas Industry Paid Over $1 Billion in Taxes
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released detailed numbers, showing oil and gas producers paid over $1.1 billion in state taxes since 2006. This includes $234 million paid this…
Media
Read More: Natural Gas Industry Paid Over $1 Billion in TaxesRegulation
Public Pensions & Politics
Here’s a presentation on government pensions from our senior fellow Rick Dreyfuss. PA Pension Reform Presentation …
Media
Read More: Public Pensions & PoliticsPublic Union Democracy
How Labor Unions Politicize Public Schools
Graphic showing how unions politicalize public schoools.
Poll
Read More: How Labor Unions Politicize Public SchoolsRegulation
PLCB’s Consumer Ca$htastrophe Continues
In another blinding flash of the obvious, the PLCB, Pennsylvania’s purveyors of perestroika, revealed in a Harrisburg Patriot News article today what we already knew: The supermarket wine kiosks…
Media
Read More: PLCB’s Consumer Ca$htastrophe ContinuesEducation
Has Penn State “bin Laden” with Speech-Squelching Policies?
Our friends at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) say yes: The announcement late last evening that U.S. forces had killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan…
Media
Read More: Has Penn State “bin Laden” with Speech-Squelching Policies?Education
Property Taxpayer Referendum
Good afternoon. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. We are a nonprofit, independent public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg. I would…
Testimony
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Letters: Drilling companies pay quite their fair share
Media Hit
Read More: Letters: Drilling companies pay quite their fair share
State senator proposes ‘impact fee’ on gas drillers
Media Hit
Read More: State senator proposes ‘impact fee’ on gas drillers
Think tanks battle on Marcellus Shale tax policy
Topics on this page Marcellus Formation…
Media Hit
Read More: Think tanks battle on Marcellus Shale tax policy
Corbett education plan takes proper approach
Media Hit
Read More: Corbett education plan takes proper approachEducation
PSU: Progress Seems Underway
On March 8, Gov. Tom Corbett started a statewide conversation about higher education through his budget address, in which he proposed significant cuts in the subsidies Pennsylvania public universities receive…
Media
Read More: PSU: Progress Seems Underway
Voice for School Choice finds New Site
HARRISBURG, PA | The Commonwealth Foundation launched today the Stand Strong Senator project in response to the wave of aggressive and special interest lobbying led by the Pennsylvania State Education…
Press Release
Read More: Voice for School Choice finds New SiteTaxes & Economy
Orwellian Tax Speak: Call It a “Fee”
Call it a “fee” or call it “knockwurst” if you like, but the latest proposal for a “local impact fee” on natural gas drillers is not only still a…
Media
Read More: Orwellian Tax Speak: Call It a “Fee”Education
When Bell Bottoms Were Cool…And PSU Charged $675
I just sent the following to a student at Penn State who is writing a paper on Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed cuts to the subsidies our public universities receive from…
Media
Read More: When Bell Bottoms Were Cool…And PSU Charged $675Taxes & Economy
The Natural Gas Not-A-Tax
Yesterday, the Republican Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati released his much anticipated Marcellus shale Not-A-Tax “local impact fee.” The proposal would require drillers to pay a “Base Fee”…
Media
Read More: The Natural Gas Not-A-TaxTaxes & Economy
Fact-Checking on Natural Gas Taxes in PA
Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center’s new report alleging the natural gas industry doesn’t pay taxes goes beyond misleading readers to using inaccurate information in order to jeer support for a…
Media
Read More: Fact-Checking on Natural Gas Taxes in PAEducation
A Pitt Student’s Take on Corbett’s Budget Proposal
As a Pitt student, I will not be joining in those manufactured protests, nor will I be participating in lobbying activities like Pitt's yearly "Harrisburg Day" when the University spends…
Commentary
Read More: A Pitt Student’s Take on Corbett’s Budget Proposal
Pennsylvania undercut pensions, study finds
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania undercut pensions, study finds