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
PA Leadership Conference Wrap-Up
Here are some news stories and blogs from the PA Leadership Conference: William Cinfici’s blog: focusing on Dick Morris’s speech and the panels on polling and government corruption. John…
Media
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Live from PA Leadership Conference (#PALC)
For those of you unable to attend the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference this year, most of the sessions will be carried live on PCN TV. You can also listen…
Media
Read More: Live from PA Leadership Conference (#PALC)State Budget
PA Budget Deficit Grows by $800 Million, Plus More Fees for Lawyers
To fill last year’s overspending, Pennsylvania lawmakers and Gov. Rendell drained all of the state’s reserve funds, including the MCare fund. Yesterday, the Commonwealth Court ruled this raid was illegal,…
Media
Read More: PA Budget Deficit Grows by $800 Million, Plus More Fees for LawyersTaxes & Economy
PA Losing Ground in Economic Rankings
This month, the American Legislative Exchange Council released their third annual ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitive Index. Unfortunately, in the last three years Pennsylvania’s economic rankings not only have been…
Media
Read More: PA Losing Ground in Economic RankingsTaxes & Economy
Tell ’em PLEASE NO MORE TAXES!
Federal, state, and local taxes consume about 28% of the income earned by Pennsylvania residents, in the aggregate. This represents 103 days – meaning…
Media
Read More: Tell ’em PLEASE NO MORE TAXES!Taxes & Economy
How Fast Is Harrisburg Spending Your Money?
Pennsylvania state government is spending $66 Billion of YOUR money this fiscal year at a clip of $180,000,000 per day. $7,500,000 per hour.
Press Release
Read More: How Fast Is Harrisburg Spending Your Money?Education
Are Pittsburgh Public Schools Among the Nation’s Best?
A recent national ranking said the Pittsburgh Public Schools were 7th best among large cities in the nation. (HT Grassroots PA). This was quite surprising, as the Pittsburgh…
Media
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CF Blog Round Up
Here is what the Commonwealth Foundation has bloggers discussing this week: PAWaterCooler and GrassrootsPA commented on our gubernatorial candidate survey. FYI by PLS noted Nathan Benefield’s…
Media
Read More: CF Blog Round UpTaxes & Economy
Transportation Funding Solutions Require Reforms and Reprioritization
Now that the federal government has rejected the ill-conceived plan to toll I-80 for a third, and supposedly final time, Gov. Rendell and the General Assembly must implement serious solutions…
Commentary
Read More: Transportation Funding Solutions Require Reforms and ReprioritizationEducation
Cyber School Stardom
Participating in PA Cyber Charter School won’t guarantee a student’s stardom but it did make it possible for Aaron Kelly, an 2010 American Idol finalist. Kelly, a 17 year…
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Citizen legislators viable solution for governmental inefficiency
Media Hit
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PA Public School Staff Grows As Enrollment Declines
Despite stagnation in qualitative measures of school performance, cries for additional spending in public schools have not subsided. In fact, Gov. Rendell says…
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News sites funded by think tanks take root
Media Hit
Read More: News sites funded by think tanks take rootTaxes & Economy
Turnpike Commission Gambles with Billions
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) has recently added to its long track record of inefficiency and corruption by using taxpayer funds to enter into 26 interest rate swaps tied…
Media
Read More: Turnpike Commission Gambles with BillionsTaxes & Economy
Happy Tax Freedom Day for Pennsylvania
Today is Tax Freedom Day for Pennsylvania. This day, calculated annually by the Tax Foundation, puts into easily understandable terms how much residents pay in taxes. Federal, state,…
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Officials: Welfare programs, state vehicle fleet costing taxpayers; reforms needed
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We can’t afford to keep raising school taxes
Media Hit
Read More: We can’t afford to keep raising school taxesPublic Union Democracy
Cost-Saving Ideas for Pennsylvania State Budget
Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield, Director of Policy Research, Commonwealth Foundation to the Pennsylvania Senate Government Management and Cost Study Commission, April 12, 2010 Good morning; I am Nathan…
Testimony
Read More: Cost-Saving Ideas for Pennsylvania State BudgetEducation
Race to the Bottom
Is a lack of funding the problem with Pennsylvania’s education system? Lincoln Institute’s Lowman Henry answers this question with a resounding no, in his recent article, Race to the…
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Read More: Race to the BottomHealth Care
Repeal It? Wouldn’t be the First Time
National Review has a good story of how Kentucky passed health care mandate like those contained in the new federal law, including guaranteed issue and community rating, in 1994.
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Read More: Repeal It? Wouldn’t be the First Time