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
Onorato Endorses School Choice Proposal
On Tuesday, we released a commentary noting that both candidates for governor in Pennsylvania – Tom Corbett (R) and Dan Onorato (D) – were advocates…
Media
Read More: Onorato Endorses School Choice ProposalState Budget
Rendell and the Missing $30 Million
Yesterday, Gov. Rendell told lawmakers that after Congress passed legislation to increase federal aid to states for Medicaid (FMAP) and to school districts – and also cut funding…
Media
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State has solutions; Does it have the will?
Media Hit
Read More: State has solutions; Does it have the will?Government Accountability
More Taxpayer Funded Propaganda
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has an email newsletter on Marcellus Shale (see PA Indy story). I, of course, signed up to see how my tax dollars were…
Media
Read More: More Taxpayer Funded PropagandaHealth Care
States Saying No to Individual Mandate
Merrill Matthews has a good article up on Forbes about what states are doing to fight the individual health insurance mandate in the new law. He touches both on…
Media
Read More: States Saying No to Individual Mandate
Blog Roundup
Here’s some recent link love for CF: PhillyNow criticizes Rendell’s “inability” to make budget cuts, while pointing to CF’s A Taxpayer’s Budget, which identifies $4 billion in possible…
Media
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Economist Antony Davies debunks arguments against liquor sale privatization
Topics on this page Antony Davies…
Media Hit
Read More: Economist Antony Davies debunks arguments against liquor sale privatizationTaxes & Economy
How Attractive is Pennsylvania Drilling?
Pop quiz: Drilling in Pennsylvania is as attractive as drilling in A) Arkansas B) Kansas or C) Cambodia? The correct answer is Cambodia. Currently, the Keystone State is one of…
Media
Read More: How Attractive is Pennsylvania Drilling?Education
A School Choice Governor?
Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett recently made headlines by announcing his support for full-fledged school choice in Pennsylvania. Democrat Dan Onorato has also expressed support for school choice, particularly the…
Commentary
Read More: A School Choice Governor?Regulation
Silliest Defense of Government Pension Plans Yet
A letter in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader attacks the Commonwealth Foundation for supporting moving state government and school districts employees to a defined-contribution retirement plan, like a 401(k). The…
Media
Read More: Silliest Defense of Government Pension Plans YetEducation
Are Taxpayers Subsidizing Learning or Partying?
The good news: Penn State is no longer the #1 party school in the US, according to the Princeton Review’s (user account) annual student-produced rankings. It has fallen…
Media
Read More: Are Taxpayers Subsidizing Learning or Partying?
Pittsburgh basking in the latest filmmaking boom
Topics on this page Pittsburgh…
Media Hit
Read More: Pittsburgh basking in the latest filmmaking boomEducation
AP Distorts Pennsylvania Education Spending
In an article about potential cuts to state appropriations to school districts – which represent cuts to the approved budget, not to last year’s spending, and would be more…
Media
Read More: AP Distorts Pennsylvania Education SpendingState Budget
Which Taxpayer-Funded Video Studio Tells More Lies?
Yesterday, Bob Caton, spokesman for the Pennsylvania House Democrats, and Steve Miskin, spokesman for the House Republican, engaged in a Twitter argument over which caucus’ TV shows were more…
Media
Read More: Which Taxpayer-Funded Video Studio Tells More Lies?
Cut the Pork, Gov. Rendell
Topics on this page Ed Rendell…
Media Hit
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Initiative and referendum needed for reform
Media Hit
Read More: Initiative and referendum needed for reformTaxes & Economy
Quote for the Day on Stimulus Spending
Yesterday, I tweeted Dan Mitchell’s blog post, which in turn cited Richard Rahn’s article on the evidence of “stimulus spending” vs. limited government on growing the economy. Mitchell…
Media
Read More: Quote for the Day on Stimulus SpendingRegulation
SEPTA’s Extravagant Spending
Earlier this week, the Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony from SEPTA officials defending their lavish spending habits during a state transportation funding crisis. Senator Rafferty expressed concern, saying:…
Media
Read More: SEPTA’s Extravagant SpendingTaxes & Economy
Onorato: Rendell’s Severance Tax is Too High
In a Capitolwire interview (subscription), gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato advocated a low natural gas severance tax rate with exemptions. Onorato highlighted three states as good examples of a…
Media
Read More: Onorato: Rendell’s Severance Tax is Too High
Reforming the Highway Trust Fund
As Gov. Rendell continues to tour Pennsylvania asking for more money for transportation, perhaps he should ask Congress to reform the federal Highway Trust Fund to ensure our gas tax…
Media
Read More: Reforming the Highway Trust Fund