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.”
Taxes & Economy
State of the Union Summaries
I missed the entire State of the Union Addresses, as I went to bed before it started (no, I’m not that old, but I had an early morning drive for…
Media
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Huffington Post attacks CF
The ultra-liberal Huffington Post’s Kevin Grandia attacks us because of our call for an independent investigation of PSU’s Michael Mann and his role in Climategate. Of course, in…
Media
Read More: Huffington Post attacks CFEducation
The Growth and Benefits of Cyber Education
The Heritage Foundation has a new background on online education, from a national perspective. They write: As many as 1 million children (roughly 2 percent of the…
Media
Read More: The Growth and Benefits of Cyber EducationRegulation
New Virginia Governor Pushing Liquor Store Privatization
Reason TV has a new video on liquor store privatization in Virginia, which highlights the benefits for consumers, and notes that states that privatize both save money and increase…
Media
Read More: New Virginia Governor Pushing Liquor Store PrivatizationGovernment Accountability
Time for a Part-Time Legislature?
Pennsylvania House Republicans Gordon Denlinger, Tim Krieger, and Bryan Cutler unveiled legislation that would return Pennsylvania to a part-time legislature. The bill, HB 1554, would limit sessions to…
Media
Read More: Time for a Part-Time Legislature?Taxes & Economy
Five Alternatives to Tolling I-80
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) continues its push for federal approval to toll Interstate-80, claiming that without it bridges will collapse, highways will crumble, and dogs and cats will start…
Commentary
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Should the Turnpike Commission Toll I-80?
It’s been 88 days since the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission resubmitted its application to toll Interstate 80 (after being denied twice). We’re told that the Federal Highway Administration will soon be…
Media
Read More: Should the Turnpike Commission Toll I-80?Taxes & Economy
Stimulus: The Sequel
The Center for Freedom and Prosperity has a great new video, analyzing 1)Whether the 2009 stimulus created jobs, and 2) Why politicians are craving another stimulus. My only…
Media
Read More: Stimulus: The SequelRegulation
“Net Neutrality” Threatens Internet Innovation
Recently, The Commonwealth Foundation joined the Internet Freedom Coalition, a coalition of organizations standing against “network neutrality” initiatives. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed a new plan that…
Media
Read More: “Net Neutrality” Threatens Internet InnovationRegulation
Pennsylvanians Heavy Laden With State Debt
A recent report from Forbes finds that Pennsylvania faces a serious challenge with state government debt. Pennsylvania ranked 35 among all states in the Forbes debt rating. According to…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvanians Heavy Laden With State DebtGovernment Accountability
More on Corporations and Free Speech
Following the Supreme Court ruling that our First Amendment right to free speech applied to corporations’ speech regarding candidates for federal office – a ruling started when the FEC…
Media
Read More: More on Corporations and Free Speech
Legislators Idiot-Proof Homes
On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Builders Association filed a lawsuit against the Department of Labor & Industry claiming new regulations violated the state Constitution. Labor & Industry implemented new residential…
Media
Read More: Legislators Idiot-Proof HomesTaxes & Economy
“Fewer Jobs Lost” is Not a Positive Trend
The Post-Gazette has a story on Pennsylvania’s economy in which both Mark Price of Keystone Research Center and the reporter both repeat the illogical idea that we are losing…
Media
Read More: “Fewer Jobs Lost” is Not a Positive TrendTaxes & Economy
Is Casey Pandering?
I attended a recent gathering at the Keystone Research Center, where Senator Bob Casey spoke of the wonders of the stimulus. He emphasized that only the stimulus could have saved…
Media
Read More: Is Casey Pandering?State Budget
Pennsylvania Unemployment Fund is $2 Billion in the Hole
Propublica.org has a great, and terrifying, tracker of states’ unemployment insurance funds. Pennsylvania fund is in woeful shape, with $125 million balance, and owing $2.05 billion in money borrowed…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Unemployment Fund is $2 Billion in the HoleGovernment Accountability
Free Political Speech and Paycheck Protection
The US Supreme Court today upheld that the First Amendment protects speech around elections from corporations and unions. The case concerns Citizens United, which produced a film Hillary: The Movie,…
Media
Read More: Free Political Speech and Paycheck ProtectionGovernment Accountability
CF Challenges Gov. Rendell to Explain What’s In the Bill
Harrisburg, PA – Yesterday, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell told Fox News that voters oppose the current health care reform proposal because “the administration and its supporters, myself included, haven’t…
Press Release
Read More: CF Challenges Gov. Rendell to Explain What’s In the BillGovernment Accountability
The Perfidy of Per Diems
ABC 27 story covers the tens of thousands of dollars lawmakers receive in per diems (i.e. money ostensibly for food and lodging, though lawmakers need not offer any receipts).
Media
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