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.”
Government Accountability
Lawsuit Lottery Must End
Upon taking office in January, Governor-elect Tom Corbett will face the burden of addressing the numerous economic and fiscal problems facing the Keystone State. One of the most pervasive is…
Commentary
Read More: Lawsuit Lottery Must EndEducation
What to Do About Teacher Strikes
Pennsylvania once again led the nation in teacher strikes. Although only 13 states permit them, Pennsylvania tops the chart again as more students are deprived of up to 180…
Media
Read More: What to Do About Teacher StrikesTaxes & Economy
Do you know the drill?
When it comes to hydraulic fracturing, Pennsylvanians are being bombarded with misleading information. Citizens informed with this inaccurate information, largely stemming from the disingenuous film Gasland, are…
Media
Read More: Do you know the drill?Regulation
Supremes Say Grocery Store Suds Sales Sanctioned
The State Supreme Court has ruled uniamously that Wegmen’s and other grocery stores with restaurants are allowed to apply for retail beer licenses, which allow them to sell six…
Media
Read More: Supremes Say Grocery Store Suds Sales SanctionedTaxes & Economy
Super Rendell Finds Bailout For Failing Port Authority
Gov. Rendell has “found” $45 million dollars of Federal Transportation Funds (for Economic Development) to bail out the failing Port Authority. Proponents claim it as a success, stating that…
Media
Read More: Super Rendell Finds Bailout For Failing Port AuthorityGovernment Accountability
Best Legislative Session Ever?
Jan Murphy of the Patriot-News notes that the 2009-10 Pennsylvania Legislative Session had the fewest new laws passed in 24 years. Since most pieces of legislation are a new…
Media
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Walking around money: Ban it once & for all
Media Hit
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How Green Jobs Destroy Good Jobs
The Pennsylvania Solar Industries Association, along with PennEnvironment are touting a solar industry sponsored study, which estimates the Commonwealth has created 6,700 solar jobs. These groups are not…
Media
Read More: How Green Jobs Destroy Good JobsTaxes & Economy
Oprah’s Dog Law Lacks Bite?
PA State Senator John Eichelberger gives a scathing review of Pennsylvania’s 2008 “dog law”, which had the noble intention of shutting down “puppy mills,” but has resulted in forcing…
Media
Read More: Oprah’s Dog Law Lacks Bite?
Unemployment Compensation Time Bomb Set to Explode
Unemployment woes are back in the news. With benefit extensions up for debate, a much bigger unemployment problem is on the horizon. Pennsylvania’s unemployment compensation fund is bankrupt, but…
Media
Read More: Unemployment Compensation Time Bomb Set to ExplodeState Budget
Gov. Rendell Wants to Borrow $1 Billion More
Gov. Rendell is pushing to issue $1 billion in new state debt before he leaves office in January. Of course, before the bonds are issued, either the Auditor General or…
Media
Read More: Gov. Rendell Wants to Borrow $1 Billion More
Corbett names huge cast to transition panels
Media Hit
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Here’s hoping new governor gets off to good start
Media Hit
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Ranks of unemployed fear end of ‘lifeline’
Media Hit
Read More: Ranks of unemployed fear end of ‘lifeline’Taxes & Economy
Family Feud Fuels Anti-Drilling Folly, Fiasco
Last week, the Wall Street Journal featured the leasing saga of the Price family, a Silver Lake Township, Pa., clan whose fickle family…
Media
Read More: Family Feud Fuels Anti-Drilling Folly, Fiasco
Blog Roundup
Check out these noteworthy posts that showed up in the blogosphere this week: The National Taxpayers Union highlights the money that can be saved from privatizing Pennsylvania’s liquor stores.
Media
Read More: Blog RoundupEducation
PSEA Up to Their Old Tricks
I’ve dealt with teachers’ unions for a lot of years in a lot of states in my on-going efforts to bring greater educational options to students and parents, and one…
Media
Read More: PSEA Up to Their Old TricksTaxes & Economy
Re: Media Catching on to Green Jobs Mythology
I noted last week how The Patriot-News and the Washington Post seemed to figure out that government subsidies for a new Green jobs economy cannot work. For an excellent illustration…
Media
Read More: Re: Media Catching on to Green Jobs MythologyTaxes & Economy
How the EPA’s Brownfield Rules will Hurt Pennsylvania’s Economy
Former Brownfield Site in Allentown, PA The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed premature dioxin* remediation goals that could threaten urban revitalization of brownfields. Brownfields are…
Media
Read More: How the EPA’s Brownfield Rules will Hurt Pennsylvania’s Economy