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.”
Can Tom Corbett keep his ‘no tax’ pledge?
Topics on this page Tom Corbett…
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Physics Supports Fracking Safety
When the head of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Oil and Gas Management says, There has never been any evidence of fracking ever causing direct contamination…
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CF Blog Roundup
Check out CF’s recent mentions in the blogosphere: Keystone Conservative highlighted a CF post on the harm ObamaCare could bring about in Pennsylvania. Capitol Ideas and…
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Read More: CF Blog RoundupTaxes & Economy
Tough Questions for Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
The PA Turnpike Commission (PTC) testified before the Senate Transportation Committee during this summer’s special session on transportation funding. Most senators on the committee expressed concern on several aspects regarding…
Media
Read More: Tough Questions for Pennsylvania Turnpike CommissionTaxes & Economy
Lancaster Co. Human Relations Commission
Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this issue. My name is Nate Benefield, I am Director of Policy Research with the Commonwealth Foundation in Harrisburg. We are a…
Testimony
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More on Government Jobs in Recession
The Rockefeller Institute of Government recently analyzed a Bureau of Labor Statistics report on jobs at this point in the recession. The report finds that with 9.2% unemployment,…
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Read More: More on Government Jobs in RecessionState Budget
How to Reduce Welfare Fraud
Following Matt Brouillette’s commentary on whether Tom Corbett (should he win) can balance the budget and keep his ‘no tax’ pledge,…
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Read More: How to Reduce Welfare FraudTaxes & Economy
Corbett on Death Tax and Farmers
Governor hopeful, Tom Corbett, has voiced support for phasing out the state’s death tax. At a meeting organized by Farm Families for Tom Corbett and Pennsylvania Agricultural Republicans, Corbett cited…
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Can Pennsylvania Grow Money from Trees?
Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation (CF) today released Growing Money on Trees: An Analysis of PA’s Climate Change Action Plan, offering a cost-benefit analysis…
Press Release
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Growing Money on Trees
In December 2009, the Pennsylvania Climate Change Advisory Committee (PCCAC), in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Center for Climate Strategies (CCS), released its report,…
Report
Read More: Growing Money on TreesState Budget
What if State Government Hired a Psychic?
The Tribune Review adds on to the continuing Orie sisters saga, that not only did they seek the advice of a clairvoyant, but that clairvoyant asked for a…
Media
Read More: What if State Government Hired a Psychic?Regulation
Tax For Soccer
It’s not soccer players or fans that will be taxed to pay for the Major League Soccer stadium in Chester, but the visitors who patronize bed and breakfasts or hotels…
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Read More: Tax For SoccerState Budget
Can Tom Corbett Keep His “No Tax” Pledge?
Attorney General Tom Corbett has taken significant criticism for his pledge to not raise taxes if elected governor. That was to be expected from his Democrat rival, Allegheny County executive…
Commentary
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Lawmakers Call for Public Integrity Commission
In the wake of convictions, indictments, and investigations of Pennsylvania lawmakers and staff, several legislators have called for a new Public Integrity Commission. The Commission would replace the current…
Media
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Free Parking? Only in “Monopoly”
Privatization Watch, which warns against privatizing government services, alerts locals that if Pittsburgh parking garages are leased to a private company the per day parking cost would increase by…
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Pennsylvania biggest casino taxer
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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Elk County community says Rendell delivered on state aid promise
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Do Conservatives Support National Education Standards?
The Fordham Institute, long advocates of national education standards, are celebrating the adoption of the Common Core Curriculum, calling it “national standards conservatives can love”. The basis for this…
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Fact Check: Pennsylvania’s Liquor Store Revenue
Many myths continue about the privatization of Pennsylvania’s state-owned liquor stores. One is that the state government would lose annual revenue from liquor sales. See Wendell Young, speaking on behalf…
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Read More: Fact Check: Pennsylvania’s Liquor Store RevenueRegulation
Reviewing the Financial Crisis
Nicole Gelinas has a great piece surveying a number of books on the financial crisis. Contrary to conventional wisdom, many in the finance world foresaw the collapse, some big…
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