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.”
Penn State climatologist cleared of misconduct
Topics on this page Pennsylvania State University…
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Penn State Whitewashes Climategate Investigation
HARRISBURG, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation today released the following statement in response to Penn State’s internal investigation of alleged scientific misconduct by Michael Mann, a prominent global warming…
Press Release
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Hearing on Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office
The PA House and Senate Finance Committees held a joint hearing on creating a “Independent Fiscal Office”. The IFO was authorized in the fiscal code (part of the budget deal),…
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PSU Clears Mann on 3 of 4 Allegations
Penn State’s internal investigation into the scientific conduct of Michael Mann cleared him of three of the four allegations against him. The report states they could find “no credible…
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Hyperbole and Hypocrisy on Campaign Finance Ruling
A must read article about the Citizen’s United case and the supposed destruction of democracy. Many states, including Illinois and Maryland, allow corporate contributions to state candidates. As…
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Stimulus: Saving Jobs or Delaying Recovery?
President Obama’s hollow promises are so glaringly visible these days that he has to chalk every compounding problem to the previous administration. One of his promises, though, involved colossal levels…
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Six Opportunities for Pennsylvania
Once upon a time, "Keystone State" represented more than just a nickname, as Pennsylvania was central to America's economy. Over the past several decades, however, our importance has diminished. Our…
Commentary
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Milwaukee Voucher Program Raises Graduation Rates
A new study from School Choice Wisconsin finds that students receiving a scholarship through the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) were 18% more likely to graduate than Milwaukee…
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Here are 5 alternatives to tolling I-80
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Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: February 2010
Following January’s estimate, Pennsylvania General Fund revenues are $374 million below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year, according to the Department of Revenue. Tax collections have been below estimate…
Press Release
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Medicaid Errors in PA Cost Upwards of $320 Million
In a news release, PA Auditor General Jack Wagner estimates that – using the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare’s (DPW) estimated error rate – improper Medicaid payments cost Pennsylvania taxpayers…
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The Higher Education Bubble
Subsidies in the form of loans or grants to students have been an integral part of higher education…
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Electricity Competition: One Month Later . . .
With January electric bills in the hands of rate payers there is a host of discussion about the successes and short comings of electricity deregulation. Unlike Rep. George and…
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Federal Aid to States Creates Pervese Incentives, Undermines Federalism
The Mercatus Center has a new policy report on the perverse incentives of the stimulus – i.e. that it drives state governments to spend more. Click here for…
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Natural Gas Tax Just Another Slush Fund
Letter in the Scranton Times-Tribune Editor: Those calling for a state tax on natural gas extraction – including Gov. Ed Rendell and The Times-Tribune – use poor logic…
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CF Blog Roundup
Here are some recent Commonwealth Foundation mentions from various blogs: Bill Lawrence cites our alternatives to tolling I-80. GrassrootsPA gives us linkage on commentaries on Term Limits…
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(Michael) Moore Movie Subsidies
Michael Moore’s latest film, Capitalism: A Love Story – which bashes taxpayer bailouts of big Wall Street companies – was itself the recipient of taxpayer subsidies from the state of…
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