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
When Will These Guys Learn?
Pennsylvania Independent reports on two PA House contracts for voter lists, costing taxpayers over $225,000. Readers will recognize that this sounds quite a bit like the actions of former…
Media
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Problems with using reconciliation approach
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CF Podcast: Freedom in the 50 States
Listen to the latest CF podcast on Mercatus Center study, Freedom in the 50 States: An Index of Personal and Economic Freedom. The report is the first comprehensive…
Media
Read More: CF Podcast: Freedom in the 50 StatesTaxes & Economy
Sam Rohrer’s Energy Proposal
Gubernatorial candidate Sam Rohrer laid out his Energy Independence plan for Pennsylvania. The plan includes: Oppose any effort to impose a natural gas severance tax in the absence of…
Media
Read More: Sam Rohrer’s Energy ProposalTaxes & Economy
SEPTA and I-80 Tolling
While the transportation industry is propping up the myth that I-80 tolls won’t be used for transit in Pennsylvania, SEPTA officials are busy lobbying for I-80 tolling in…
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Obama’s cure tough to swallow
Topics on this page Barack Obama…
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Both parties realize constitutional convention is necessary
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Rendell’s War on (Some) Special Interests
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Read More: Rendell’s War on (Some) Special InterestsTaxes & Economy
More on the Unintended Consequences of the “Jobs Bill”
CS Monitor writes that the tax credits in the so-called “jobs bill” won’t encourage small businesses to hire. Worse yet, it might delay job creation: And as long…
Media
Read More: More on the Unintended Consequences of the “Jobs Bill”Regulation
Philadelphia Should Get out of the Garbage Business
Earlier this month, Philadelphia’s Mayor Nutter proposed increasing the city’s trash collection fee to $300 to deal with the city’s budget deficit. Instead of finding ways to be more…
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Read More: Philadelphia Should Get out of the Garbage BusinessHealth Care
Obama and the Slacker Mandate
In his health care rally in the Philadelphia area earlier this week, President Obama touted a proposed regulation that insurance companies would have to allow children up to age 26…
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Read More: Obama and the Slacker MandateTaxes & Economy
Could Municipalities Provide Cheaper Electricity?
Last week the State House Committee on Consumer Affairs held a hearing on legislation which would allow municipalities to act as electricity aggregators for residents, unless they opt-out for another…
Media
Read More: Could Municipalities Provide Cheaper Electricity?Regulation
State and Local Government Outpace Private Pay by 44%
A new survey from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics looks at the total employer costs for workers in both the private and public sector. While wages for…
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Read More: State and Local Government Outpace Private Pay by 44%Government Accountability
Need for an Independent Fiscal Office in PA?
A new Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office was the subject of a recent legislative hearing this week, with several lawmakers arguing the need for the office (which was included in…
Media
Read More: Need for an Independent Fiscal Office in PA?Government Accountability
The Case for a Citizen Legislature
The operating cost of the Pennsylvania General Assembly has steadily increased, while Pennsylvania's economy has been stagnant. The Keystone State's burden of state and local taxes is among the heaviest…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Case for a Citizen LegislatureState Budget
Reckless Driving With Taxpayer Dollars
Pennsylvania’s move towards big government is many ways mirrored by the fleet of cars it has amassed over the last three decades. The number of cars increased from 5,700…
Media
Read More: Reckless Driving With Taxpayer DollarsRegulation
Grading Corbett’s Economic Plan: FAIL
Pennsylvania governor candidate Tom Corbett and his campaign team unveiled the first of seven policy outlines on economic development. Much of what it outlines is simply political rhetoric –…
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Read More: Grading Corbett’s Economic Plan: FAIL