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.”
GOP’s Civera sure to stay for next Pa. budget
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
Read More: GOP’s Civera sure to stay for next Pa. budgetRegulation
Failing to Learn from Past Gambles
The Patriot New ran in an article on property tax “relief” the day after Thanksgiving, giving homeowners a reason not to be thankful. The governor’s dream to make…
Media
Read More: Failing to Learn from Past GamblesGovernment Accountability
The Honorable Matthew J. Brouillette?
It’s official, I am now an elected official, having won a random drawing – that’s democracy in action – for Judge of Election in my precinct. While I am unsure…
Media
Read More: The Honorable Matthew J. Brouillette?Education
Penn State to Launch Inquiry in “Climategate”
Penn State University is going to “look into” the emails from and about university professor Michael Mann, which indicate, among other things,…
Media
Read More: Penn State to Launch Inquiry in “Climategate”Education
Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?
With Pittsburgh on the brink of bankruptcy thanks to its continual out-of-control spending, Mayor Ravenstahl and his allies on City Council have hatched a new scheme to collect more money…
Commentary
Read More: Taxing Tuition: The Future of Higher Education?Government Accountability
Pennsylvania Spent $4 Million in Taxpayer Funded Lobbying
The Tribune Review gives a strong exposé on why taxpayers continue to lose – Pennsylvania state and local governments spent $4 million to lobby the federal and state government…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Spent $4 Million in Taxpayer Funded LobbyingTaxes & Economy
Congress Working on “[Save Their Own] Jobs” Bill
With jobs losses continuing to mount, Congress is considering a third economic “stimulus” (pundits often ignore the Bush stimulus of 2008) in…
Media
Read More: Congress Working on “[Save Their Own] Jobs” Bill
State backs off role as caretaker of history
Media Hit
Read More: State backs off role as caretaker of historyState Budget
Pennsylvania Lawmakers to End Calendar Givewaways
ABC 27 reports that both the Pennsylvania House and Senate will not be printing calendars to give away this year (which typically featured a “courtesy of Rep. Name”) sticker.
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Lawmakers to End Calendar Givewaways
This is the generation of our discontent
Media Hit
Read More: This is the generation of our discontent
Liquor Control Board’s Eagles sweepstakes sparks outcry
Topics on this page Philadelphia Eagles…
Media Hit
Read More: Liquor Control Board’s Eagles sweepstakes sparks outcryTaxes & Economy
Legislating Prices for Legal Ads
What do you do when something costs too much? You don’t buy it. Or if you’re the state, you simply mandate a new lower price. The State House…
Media
Read More: Legislating Prices for Legal AdsTaxes & Economy
Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax?
Pennsylvania has a flat rate Personal Income Tax (PIT) of 3.07%, which is a fair and simple distribution of taxation. Yet some people are imprudently calling for a state-wide graduated…
Media
Read More: Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax?
Pa. Government: An Unequal Opportunity Employer
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
Read More: Pa. Government: An Unequal Opportunity EmployerPublic Union Democracy
Why Public Sector Unionism Is a Bad Deal for Taxpayers
A recent report by the Cato Institute concluded “High rates of unionization in the public sector have led to very high labor costs in the form of generous collective…
Media
Read More: Why Public Sector Unionism Is a Bad Deal for TaxpayersRegulation
Pennsylvania Pensions and Taxes
Pennsylvania's statewide pension plans for public school employees, state workers, legislators, judges and other government employees - the Public School Employee Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employee Retirement System…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Pensions and Taxes
How state lawmakers can prevent the next SEPTA strike
Topics on this page Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority…
Media Hit
Read More: How state lawmakers can prevent the next SEPTA strikeTaxes & Economy
Penn State Professor Caught in Climatology Scandal
Britain’s Climate Research Unit verified hackers confiscated email correspondence between top climatologists, putting Penn State’s director of Earth System Science Center, Michael E. Mann, directly in the middle of…
Media
Read More: Penn State Professor Caught in Climatology ScandalPublic Union Democracy
Legal Plunder At Its Worst
Let’s see how many dirty political games you can fit into one case – from union thuggery to corporate welfare, to rent-seeking to holding taxpayers and employees hostage – the…
Media
Read More: Legal Plunder At Its Worst