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.”
This is Civil Discourse?
On May 8, the Commonwealth Foundation is hosting an event, LiveFreePA, to celebrate the freedoms government in Washington and Harrisburg are threatening, including personal freedoms such as…
Media
Read More: This is Civil Discourse?Government Accountability
Does Legislative Size Matter?
Good morning. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. We are a nonprofit, independent public policy research and educational institute based in Harrisburg. I…
Testimony
Read More: Does Legislative Size Matter?Government Accountability
21 Reasons Free-Market Think Tanks are Effective
Is it certainly self-serving of me to say this, but here is an excellent article by a former think tank CEO giving 21 reasons think tanks are more effective…
Media
Read More: 21 Reasons Free-Market Think Tanks are EffectiveTaxes & Economy
PennFuture Pal Lets the Truth Out
Katrina Currie’s excellent posts during the last two weeks, which refuted PennFuture’s absurd claims about job creation and cost savings tied to alternative energy, as well…
Media
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Editorial: Silly stunt provides a service to electorate
Media Hit
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Small Business vs. Big Government
What is the third largest country in the world based on its production of output? It is America's small businesses. Collectively, they produce half of our private Gross Domestic Product…
Commentary
Read More: Small Business vs. Big GovernmentRegulation
Talking Liquor Store Privatization
Eric Boehm of PA Independent interviews state representative Mike Turzai on his proposal to privatize all state-owned liquor stores and auction off licenses. Here is a story with…
Media
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Long-term reform tied to constitutional change
Media Hit
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CF in the Blogs
Here is what bloggers are giving CF some linkage for this week: Think Progress and the Wonk Room cross-posted information about the gun shooting event, LiveFreePA,…
Media
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Pa. think tank to mix guns and booze for fundraiser
Media Hit
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Libs Going Nuts Over Guns
Seems our LiveFreePA event on May 8 has gotten our liberal friends’ underwear in a knot. So much so that Alan Colmes is going to have me…
Media
Read More: Libs Going Nuts Over GunsHealth Care
Devasting Critique of New Health Care Law
John Goodman offers a fine summary of a devastating critique of ObamaCare, produced by … the Obama Administration: Health care costs will go up, not…
Media
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Event allows candidates, others to fire weapons at car representing ‘liberal policy ideas’
Media Hit
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Pa. fund-raiser locked and loaded for fun
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
Read More: Pa. fund-raiser locked and loaded for funTaxes & Economy
Natural Gas Taxes Across the States
Gov. Rendell and other advocates for a natural gas severance tax make the claim that Pennsylvania is the only major gas producing state not to impose this tax and therefore…
Media
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GOP candidates to campaign at shooting-range event
Media Hit
Read More: GOP candidates to campaign at shooting-range eventTaxes & Economy
Will Work Sharing Bill Save Jobs?
On Monday, the Pennsylvania House unanimously passed HB 2160, the “work-share” bill. The legislation is designed to encourage employers to reduce employees hours instead of laying off workers.
Media
Read More: Will Work Sharing Bill Save Jobs?Government Accountability
The Event Anti-Freedom Politicians Don’t Want You to Attend
I invited gubernatorial candidate Joe Hoeffel to share his views with CF supporters in a couple weeks…and to help us celebrate our Second Amendment rights. Now, he — along with others who…
Media
Read More: The Event Anti-Freedom Politicians Don’t Want You to AttendTaxes & Economy
PA Needs Infinity Dollars to Repair Roads
The Tribune Review has a story that transportation advocates are now claiming that Pennsylvania needs $3 billion in additional revenue per year just to keep roads and bridges up…
Media
Read More: PA Needs Infinity Dollars to Repair RoadsRegulation
Rendell’s “Press Release Economics”
Press-release economics has long been part of a political charade in which lawmakers use other people's money to fund their political gain. In Pennsylvania, agencies such as the Department of…
Commentary
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