Erik Telford

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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.” 

Taxes & Economy

Long-Term Care a Growing Part of State Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 29, 2010

The Healthcare Economist blog highlights the size and growth of long-term care (LTC) spending. Medicaid spending on long-term care services, including home/community care and traditional nursing homes, has approximately quadrupled in the past…

Media

Read More: Long-Term Care a Growing Part of State Spending

Taxes & Economy

Media Catching on to Green Jobs Mythology

  • November 23, 2010

Today The Patriot-News reports that state and federal subsidies for renewables projects are running out, leading to uncertainty that a whole new Green Economy (promoted by environmentalists)…

Media

Read More: Media Catching on to Green Jobs Mythology

Taxes & Economy

Even Al Gore Opposes Ethanol Subsidies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 23, 2010

Yesterday, former Vice President and emperor of global warming alarmism Al Gore admitted that it was a mistake to support ethanol mandates and subsidies. Gore blamed the political dynamics,…

Media

Read More: Even Al Gore Opposes Ethanol Subsidies

Taxes & Economy

Misinformation Fuels Severance Tax (or Fee)

  • November 22, 2010

It’s not surprising that so many Pennsylvanians believe the state needs a severance tax, when they are bombarded with biased and misleading information. A recent example comes from the…

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Read More: Misinformation Fuels Severance Tax (or Fee)

Taxes & Economy

Are Tax Cuts Unfair?

  • November 22, 2010

Congress continues to debate whether to extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, to allow taxes to go up on everyone, or…

Media

Read More: Are Tax Cuts Unfair?

Education

Why Do PA College Grads Have so Much Debt?

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 22, 2010

Pennsylvania college grads are accumulating staggering levels of debt—higher than the national average. Sunday’s Tribune-Review reports the all-too-common story of young college grads tens of thousands of dollars in…

Media

Read More: Why Do PA College Grads Have so Much Debt?

Regulation

Presentation on PA State Spending & Fiscal Crunch: What Now

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 19, 2010

My presentation to the Berks County Patriots on Pennsylvania state spending and the fiscal and economic challenges facing Pennsylvania is available below, or can be downloaded here:…

Media

Read More: Presentation on PA State Spending & Fiscal Crunch: What Now

Blog Roundup

  • November 18, 2010

Check out these recent noteworthy posts from the blogosphere: CATO tells us that the Post Office reported an $8.5 billion dollar loss in 2010. Free trade is badly needed…

Media

Read More: Blog Roundup