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.”
State Budget
Proposed Pennsylvania Sales Tax Expansion Categories
As part of his budget, Gov. Rendell has proposed lowering Pennsylvania’s sales tax from 6% to 4% (Philadelphia has an additional 2% and Allegheny County 1% on top of the…
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Rendell Budget Treats Symptoms, Ignores Disease
HARRISBURG, PA (02.09.10) – Commonwealth Foundation president and CEO Matthew J. Brouillette released the following statement in response…
Press Release
Read More: Rendell Budget Treats Symptoms, Ignores DiseaseState Budget
Pennsylvania Budget Address Live Updates
CF will be offering live comments via Twitter on Governor Rendell’s budget address, beginning at 10:30 am. Updates will show up below. You can also follow CF staff here,…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Budget Address Live UpdatesPublic Union Democracy
Growth of Government Unions in Pennsylvania
Eric Boehm notes the growth of public-sector union members (which now represent a majority of union members nation-wide) and the decline of private union members in Pennsylvania. More…
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Rendell aims to lower sales tax yet raise revenue
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Delaware County Patriots to host meeting
Topics on this page Delaware CountyNew England Patriots…
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Perpetuating Fraud And Mismanagement
The Department of Public Welfare will receive additional federal funding to support its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This amount will be used to increase grants by…
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Commonwealth Foundation Proposes Penn State Climate Change Debate
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Will Mandates Create “Green Jobs”?
Yes, to answer the question posed by the title, the state can mandate the creation of “green jobs” via alternative energy mandates – just as it…
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Read More: Will Mandates Create “Green Jobs”?State Budget
It’s Time for a Taxpayer’s Budget
Harrisburg, PA (02.08.10) – The Commonwealth Foundation today called upon Governor Ed Rendell to propose a taxpayer’s budget, a fiscal blueprint adhering to three principles of responsible spending for Pennsylvania. “Pennsylvania…
Press Release
Read More: It’s Time for a Taxpayer’s BudgetTaxes & Economy
Natural Gas Tax: One Thoughtful Editorial, One…Not So Much
In their editorial on a natural gas severance tax, likely to be part of Gov. Rendell’s budget proposal on Tuesday, the Patriot News highlights some facts that don’t ever…
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Read More: Natural Gas Tax: One Thoughtful Editorial, One…Not So Much
Budget time again? State must tap possible revenue sources
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The fiscal train wreck in our back yard
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Penn State Probe into Mann’s Wrongdoing a ‘Total Whitewash’
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Rules for Radicals and Climategate
The Allentown Morning Call covers the ongoing “Climategate” scandal involving Penn State’s Michael Mann. Joe Sterns, our director of communications, does a great job of staking out our position.
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Read More: Rules for Radicals and ClimategateGovernment Accountability
Live Webinar: Job Opportunities in Public Policy
Looking for a career path that will enable you to advance the ideas of liberty? Already in a position, but looking to gain the professional skills and management training to…
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Politics fuel flap over climate prof’s work
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Final Nail in I-80 Tolling’s Coffin?
The FHWA is expect to announce shortly that, once again, the have rejected the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s bid to toll I-80 across the state. Eric Boehm has the details…
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Read More: Final Nail in I-80 Tolling’s Coffin?Public Union Democracy
Dude, Where’s My Raise?
A struggling economy and high unemployment left many without their yearly raise or bonus in 2009. That is, of course, unless you were a government employee. As originally reported on…
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Read More: Dude, Where’s My Raise?Taxes & Economy
Free Money Or Greater Burden?
Pennsylvania has not known the meaning of fiscal responsibility for quite some time. Unfortunately, for working Pennsylvanians, that is not about to change. Pennsylvania’s General Fund revenues are already…
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Read More: Free Money Or Greater Burden?