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.”
Pennsylvania Pensions: From Surplus To A Deep Hole
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An Annual or Biennial Pennsylvania Budget?
Cross Posted at The Triadvocate House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) argues that “a two-year budget is impractical in our modern world” and that the current annual budget cycle…
Media
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Who Got Bribed on Health Care Vote?
Eric Telford (Twitter handle JoeTaxpayer) has started to round up Congressmen who change their health care vote after getting big grants for their districts: …
Media
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’01 pension vote still weighing heavy on state
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Pennsylvania remains behind the times in alcohol sales
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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Pension Woes May Deepen Financial Crisis For States
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Read More: Pension Woes May Deepen Financial Crisis For StatesTaxes & Economy
Can Harrisburg Learn from Reason?
The Economist has a story on the city of Harrisburg’s fiscal mess, which has been years in the making. Thanks to an irresponsible city council, Harrisburg is still…
Media
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Spencer: It’s time for Joe Sestak to name names (2nd Item)
Topics on this page Joe Sestak…
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Health care legislation disregards tort costs
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CF Blog Roundup
It’s time for another edition of the CF Policy Blog Roundup. Capitol Ideas keeps the link love coming by pointing to our post on the NTU’s rating of PA’s…
Media
Read More: CF Blog RoundupRegulation
Maryland Smokers Border-Hopping to Avoid Cigarette Tax
According to a recent op-ed by Marc Kilmer of the Maryland Public Policy Institute, a 2007 cigarette tax is having an adverse effect on the Free State’s economy. While…
Media
Read More: Maryland Smokers Border-Hopping to Avoid Cigarette TaxGovernment Accountability
The Case for a Part-Time Legislature
There is a direct link between our full-time legislature and our state economy. A Commonwealth Foundation analysis shows a strong connection between legislative professionalization and higher spending per capita, a…
Commentary
Read More: The Case for a Part-Time LegislatureRegulation
Private Historical Sites are More Popular
Unfortunately, the ability of non profit groups, private philanthropy and individual entrepreneurship have to preserve our historic sites and natural resources is largely overlooked. The perception that privately run…
Media
Read More: Private Historical Sites are More PopularEducation
Establishment Continues to Attack Cyber Schools
At a hearing yesterday, Pennsylvania School Boards Association touted additional proposals to cut off funding for cyber charter schools. One of these proposals would be that cyber schools would…
Media
Read More: Establishment Continues to Attack Cyber SchoolsHealth Care
Five Questions to Ask Your Congressman About Health Care Reform
The US House of Representatives is preparing to vote on health care legislation, or rather to vote to “deem” that the Senate health care bill, which has not passed the…
Media
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Government Workers Won’t Be Screwed by 401k Plan
Capitolwire has a story (subscription) on a recent hearing regarding switching from defined-benefit pensions to defined-contribution (401k) plans for state and school employees. I was asked to respond to…
Media
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I-80 tolls would go to questionable hands
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Read More: I-80 tolls would go to questionable handsState Budget
More Opposition to Rendell’s Sales Tax Expansion
The Post-Gazette sums up additional opposition to Gov. Rendell’s proposed expansion of the sales tax – this time from the computer services industry. The article also notes how Gov.
Media
Read More: More Opposition to Rendell’s Sales Tax ExpansionTaxes & Economy
Gas Bags Scare Off Gas Investor
In an interview with CNBC, Larry Nichols, CEO of the highly-successful Devon Energy, claimed his company will not be seeking a share of the Marcellus Shale gas reserves anytime…
Media
Read More: Gas Bags Scare Off Gas InvestorGovernment Accountability
Sunshine Week…Time for Spending Transparency in PA
This week is Sunshine Week, created to promote open government and celebrate James Madison’s birthday (which is today, and an aside, he is my favorite founding father). Now would…
Media
Read More: Sunshine Week…Time for Spending Transparency in PAEducation
The Green Schools Ruse
Yesterday the House passed Rep. Drucker’s bill to exclude any costs associated with making a school building LEED certified from a possible…
Media
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