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.”
Pennsylvania leaders push plan for school vouchers
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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New Poll Shows Gas Tax Popular in Areas without Drilling
The Tribune-Review released a poll today showing support for a natural gas tax jumped 40 percent since the May…
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Read More: New Poll Shows Gas Tax Popular in Areas without DrillingGovernment Accountability
Are Freshmen Lawmakers Bad for State Legislatures?
Governing magazine looks at the disadvantages to term limits, focusing on the constant turnover in state legislatures. Recognizing the inexperience of lawmakers, states like Michigan and California are setting up…
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Read More: Are Freshmen Lawmakers Bad for State Legislatures?Taxes & Economy
Penn State’s Mann Under More Scrutiny
Also today Pennsylvania Independent reports that the American Tradition Institute, where I am executive director, has filed a Freedom of Information…
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Read More: Penn State’s Mann Under More ScrutinyRegulation
TastyKake: Continued Failure of Corporate Welfare
PA Independent reports that TastyKake, a corporation with operations in Philadelphia and Chester County, may have to liquidate. This despite a $32 million low-interest state loan (which is looking…
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Pittsburgh councilman wants voters to decide on property tax increases
Topics on this page Pittsburgh…
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Read More: Pittsburgh councilman wants voters to decide on property tax increasesRegulation
Liquor Stores No Asset for Taxpayers
Today, the Philadelphia Daily News published a letter from the Commonwealth Foundation titled “For the state stores, there’s no rationale for holding on anymore,” in response to their…
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For the state stores, there’s no rationale for holding on anymore
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Read More: For the state stores, there’s no rationale for holding on anymoreTaxes & Economy
A True Renewables Comparison
The Patriot-News over the weekend ran two letters to the editor in response to my op-ed that called for the Commonwealth’s new elected leadership to repeal…
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Read More: A True Renewables Comparison
Committee raises private funds to help pay for swearing in of new House members
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Pennsylvanians deserve choices at liquor stores
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Read More: Pennsylvanians deserve choices at liquor storesGovernment Accountability
Top Five CF Research Articles of 2010
Based on website visits, here are the five most popular research articles produced by the Commonwealth Foundation in the past year: #5: A Taxpayer’s Budget 2010: Responsible Spending for Pennsylvania…
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Read More: Top Five CF Research Articles of 2010Government Accountability
Top Five PolicyBlog Posts of 2010
Based on reader visits, here are our five most popular PolicyBlog posts over the past year: #5: 2010 SAT Scores by State The College Board has released the results of…
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Read More: Top Five PolicyBlog Posts of 2010Taxes & Economy
Gov., Legislature Should Repeal Costly Renewables Mandates
A lot can be spun from the results of the Nov. 2 elections, but one fact is uncontrovertible: Pennsylvanians are sick of centrally planned, highly regulated, gimmick-driven economic policy. It…
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Read More: Gov., Legislature Should Repeal Costly Renewables MandatesTaxes & Economy
Manning Up Isn’t For ‘Wusses’
As the old saying goes, “it takes one to know one,” and outgoing Gov. Ed Rendell, who has obviously spent more time analyzing the Philadelphia Eagles than bringing jobs back…
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Read More: Manning Up Isn’t For ‘Wusses’
Pennsylvanians deserve choices at liquor stores
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Read More: Pennsylvanians deserve choices at liquor stores
Legislature should repeal costly renewables
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Will lawmakers raise a toast to privatization?
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Reverse Coercion Course
That’s what I wrote yesterday in an opinion piece for the Patriot-News, about Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, which requires utilities to purchase 18 percent of their electricity…
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Glad Tidings…If You Love Freedom
It’s clear: The big government lovers in Pennsylvania are getting coal in their stockings. Just a few days ago, CF announced that we had already met our…
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Read More: Glad Tidings…If You Love FreedomEducation
More Bad News for Minority Students in Philadelphia Public Schools
How are African-American males faring in Philadelphia public schools? According to a report recently released by the Council of Great City Schools, not very well. The report, “A Call…
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Read More: More Bad News for Minority Students in Philadelphia Public Schools