Erik Telford

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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

Auditor General Says No-Bid Contracts are Costing State Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 21, 2009

Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner issued a scathing rebuke of the Rendell administration’s use of no-bid contracts, specifically in relation to over a half-billion dollars given to Deloitte for…

Media

Read More: Auditor General Says No-Bid Contracts are Costing State Taxpayers

Taxes & Economy

ACORN Sting in Philadelphia

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 21, 2009

BigGovernment.com has released their video from Philadelphia’s ACORN office from July 24. As in other videos, ACORN Philadelphia provided advice to the fake pimp and prostitute for what sort…

Media

Read More: ACORN Sting in Philadelphia

Regulation

Betting on Table Games to Balance the Budget

  • October 21, 2009

Harrisburg lawmakers are waiting on passing funding for “non-preferred” appropriations (e.g. state-related universities like Penn State and Pitt) until legislation to legalize, tax, and set license fees for table games…

Media

Read More: Betting on Table Games to Balance the Budget

State Budget

PA Business Survey: Bad Budget Deal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 21, 2009

The Lincoln Institute released its Fall Business Climate Survey for Pennsylvania (mostly surveying small business owners). Click here for results and here for a summary of findings. Not…

Media

Read More: PA Business Survey: Bad Budget Deal

Government Accountability

Common Sense on Legislative Size

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 20, 2009

Paul Jacob’s latest “Common Sense” deals with the size of the Pennsylvania Legislature.  Jacob advises: [D]on’t cut the size of the legislature. But by all means cut the…

Media

Read More: Common Sense on Legislative Size

Regulation

WAMs Strike Again – Allentown Gets Hockey Rink

  • October 20, 2009

Despite the numerous studies concluding subsidized sport arenas provide little to no overall economic benefits to communities – Allentown is getting a minor league hockey rink built with at least …

Media

Read More: WAMs Strike Again – Allentown Gets Hockey Rink

Health Care

Guide to National Health Care Reform Proposals

  • October 20, 2009

President Obama has pushed national health care reform, making it a priority. While there is no official "Obama plan," and several different proposal in Congress, the leading proposals have several…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Guide to National Health Care Reform Proposals

Public Union Democracy

Political Power of Public Sector Unions

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 20, 2009

The Weekly Standard has a good piece on the growing political power of public sector unions, with a short history lesson, and many of the consequences (e.g.

Media

Read More: Political Power of Public Sector Unions

Government Accountability

Why Tort Reform is Ignored in the Health Care Debate

  • October 19, 2009

The discussion surrounding tort reform is often subdued when talking about health care costs. Trial lawyers, like the American Association for Justice, claim that undermine litigation costs as a part…

Media

Read More: Why Tort Reform is Ignored in the Health Care Debate

Taxes & Economy

Map of State and Local Sales Tax Rates

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 19, 2009

The Tax Foundation has a new map showing sales tax rates by state – including both the state rate and the average local rate. With the local included, Pennsylvania…

Media

Read More: Map of State and Local Sales Tax Rates

Health Care

Health Care “Facts” Disputed

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 19, 2009

Michael Cannon and Ramesh Ponnuru have an editorial challenging the assertions of Obama on health care.  The article came out a few weeks ago, and specifically cites claims made…

Media

Read More: Health Care “Facts” Disputed

State Budget

Facts About Spending Limits from Colorado

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 16, 2009

Voters in Maine will have the opportunity to vote on a referendum limiting state spending and tax increases. The Maine Heritage Policy Center released a new paper offering…

Media

Read More: Facts About Spending Limits from Colorado

Taxes & Economy

Job Losses in Pennsylvania Counties

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 16, 2009

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released data on county employment and wages today.  It is a little dated (March 2009) relative to national data, but does offer a profile…

Media

Read More: Job Losses in Pennsylvania Counties

Health Care

Canadians Speak Out Against Government-Run Health Care

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 16, 2009

Our friends at the Mackinac Center have a series of videos on Canadian health care with regular Canadians discussing the problems with government-run health coverage.  (HT to Carpe…

Media

Read More: Canadians Speak Out Against Government-Run Health Care