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.”
Health Care
Post-Gazette Combats Health Care “Lies” With Actual Lies
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Sally Kalson has a ridiculous piece on health care reform (HT PA Watercooler), in which she admittedly fabricates a number of proposals she “imagines” Republicans would…
Media
Read More: Post-Gazette Combats Health Care “Lies” With Actual LiesState Budget
Cash for Clunkers Crash and Burns
The New York Times reports that car dealers in New York have pulled out of the government’s cost-shifting program to aid automakers in Detroit under the banner…
Media
Read More: Cash for Clunkers Crash and BurnsTaxes & Economy
Auditor General Finds More Waste and Fraud in Pennsylvania Welfare
A new report from Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner finds that the Special Allowances program in the Department of Public Welfare is “rife with mismanagement and potential for fraud.” …
Media
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Who is Blogging about CF?
Lots of love from the Blogosphere about Commonwealth Foundation studies, events, are blog posts this week: Tony Phyrillas writes about the high level of debt in Pennsylvania state…
Media
Read More: Who is Blogging about CF?Health Care
Obama’s “Co-operative” Trojan Horse
With the public voicing overwhelming concern over the potential effects Obama’s “public option” could have on America’s healthcare industry, the White House now has its back against the wall. Progressives…
Media
Read More: Obama’s “Co-operative” Trojan HorseEducation
Fact-Checking Gov. Rendell and Bill Cosby
This afternoon. Gov. Ed Rendell, school superintendents, and Bill Cosby held a press conference on improvement in Pennsylvania test scores, and calling for funding increases. Unfortunately, they got a number…
Media
Read More: Fact-Checking Gov. Rendell and Bill CosbyHealth Care
The Prognosis for National Health Insurance: A Pennsylvania Perspective
In 1960, the private sector funded over three quarters of the nation’s health care expenditures. Individuals paid nearly one-half of the total national health care expenditures through out of pocket…
Report
Read More: The Prognosis for National Health Insurance: A Pennsylvania PerspectiveEducation
“Special Needs” Status Tied to Warped Incentives
Marcus Winters and Jay Greene from the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research have released a study that shows that offering disabled students special education vouchers reduces the likelihood that…
Media
Read More: “Special Needs” Status Tied to Warped IncentivesHealth Care
Report: National Healthcare Would Harm PA
HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation released a report today showing that President Obama’s proposed takeover of health care by the federal government would have dramatically negative effects on Pennsylvanians.
Press Release
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Buses from Pennsylvania for 9/12 March on Washington
Here is some info of buses being coordinate from various parts of Pennsylvania for the 9/12 March on Washington: The 9/12 Project PA has lists of a…
Media
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RIP Rose Friedman
Here is a statement from our friends at the REACH Foundation on the passing of Rose Friedman yesterday: Rose Director Friedman passed away today, Tuesday, August 18, 2009,…
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Read More: RIP Rose FriedmanHealth Care
Lots More Reasons why ObamaCare isn’t Popular
Pete DeCoursey has an interesting column on Capitowire (subscription) about why people oppose ObamaCare. He hits the main point correct — most people are satisfied with their coverage (…
Media
Read More: Lots More Reasons why ObamaCare isn’t PopularEducation
Won’t Somebody Think of the Children!?
Jim Roxbury brought to my attention a quote by Governor Rendell that “the one group that has no lobbyist here in Pennsylvania is our children” as well as too…
Media
Read More: Won’t Somebody Think of the Children!?Health Care
Scrutinize the Health Care Bill
We’ve gotten a few calls over the last few days asking where to get and read the 1,200 page health care bill being debated in Congress. Here are some resources:…
Media
Read More: Scrutinize the Health Care BillEducation
Dramatic Government Spending Increases are Never Enough
The Patriot News has an AP story by Marc Levy, highlighting recipients of taxpayer funding that want more taxpayer funding. It seems these groups are living in another world. …
Media
Read More: Dramatic Government Spending Increases are Never EnoughEducation
Who’s the Teacher?
If you thought the Eagles bringing in Michael Vick was a bad idea, wait until you hear this – the Philadelphia Public Schools might bring in Tony…
Media
Read More: Who’s the Teacher?
Bloggers slam government-run care during RightOnline conference in South Side
Media Hit
Read More: Bloggers slam government-run care during RightOnline conference in South SideHealth Care
RightOnline Health Care Panel
Right Online held a panel on health care reform today, which I had the honor of speaking at, along with Amy Menefee of Americans for Prosperity and the…
Media
Read More: RightOnline Health Care PanelPublic Union Democracy
Tolling I-80 is a Recipe for Disaster
With a renewed interest in tolling Interstate 80, I find it necessary to reiterate several points of concern surrounding Act 44 and its implications on Pennsylvania’s economic future: Act…
Media
Read More: Tolling I-80 is a Recipe for DisasterHealth Care
Universal Health Care is for Primitive Societies
The Wynnewood Institute has a great article on government run health care by Thomas Patrick Burke. It argues that since civilizations value freedom over coercion universal health care…
Media
Read More: Universal Health Care is for Primitive Societies