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
Dwight Evan’s Favorite WAM Recipient Has Plenty of Problems
The Philadelphia Inquirer exposes another nonprofit with ties to a state lawmaker – this time House Democrat Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans – whose use of tax dollars seems sketchy…
Media
Read More: Dwight Evan’s Favorite WAM Recipient Has Plenty of ProblemsHealth Care
Attacking the Messengers on Health Care Reform
President Obama, Dick Durbin, the unions, and shills at MSNBC have taken to calling protesters who disagree with their health care agenda as shills for corporate interests or “the…
Media
Read More: Attacking the Messengers on Health Care ReformHealth Care
Who I’m Going to Report for Spreading Misinformation about Health Care Reform
I’m sure by now everyone has seen the White House’s call for reporting anyone who is spreading “misinformation” or anything “fishy” about Obama’s proposed health care reform to…
Media
Read More: Who I’m Going to Report for Spreading Misinformation about Health Care ReformRegulation
Philadelphia Needs Neither Higher Taxes nor Generational Theft
The Pennsylvania House yesterday passed a bill that would allow Philadelphia to raise its sales tax another percentage point and to defer it pension payments for city employees further…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia Needs Neither Higher Taxes nor Generational TheftRegulation
Lower Taxes Would Eliminate Need For Rendell’s Corporate Giveaways
At 9.99% PA’s Corporate Net Income Tax is the 2nd highest in the U.S. and our Capital Stock and Franchise Tax, a 1.89-mill levy on corporate infrastructure (given the budget)…
Media
Read More: Lower Taxes Would Eliminate Need For Rendell’s Corporate GiveawaysHealth Care
Is Dissent Still the Highest Form of Patriotism?
It seems that the President is very upset that people are actually questioning his health care plan. So much so that the White House wants to be informed…
Media
Read More: Is Dissent Still the Highest Form of Patriotism?Education
Low Standards De-Value Diplomas
The U.S. dollar isn’t the only piece of paper plagued by inflation. While the Federal Reserve drives down the value of the greenback, low academic standards in Pennsylvania are decreasing…
Commentary
Read More: Low Standards De-Value DiplomasTaxes & Economy
Make Drill Here, Drill Now a Reality
Remember Drill Here Drill Now campaign? It’s one approval away from becoming a reality. As of October 1, 2008 no moratoriums exist on offshore oil and gas development, however,…
Media
Read More: Make Drill Here, Drill Now a RealityState Budget
Ed Rendell Demands More Taxes
At a press conference yesterday, Gov. Rendell says he will “compromise” on the budget – so long as he gets $1.6 billion in new revenue. That he, he needs…
Media
Read More: Ed Rendell Demands More Taxes
Pennsylvania debate on school funding based on study’s faulty premise
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania debate on school funding based on study’s faulty premiseHealth Care
Universal Healthcare Will Render Us Poorer
The democrat health-care system is a systematic move toward a single payer universal health-care system. President Barack Obama has contended that the private system will continue to exist, but…
Media
Read More: Universal Healthcare Will Render Us PoorerState Budget
State of Pennsylvania has 5,000 Vacant Positions
In response to a recent question posed us – about how many actual workers vs. unfilled positions Gov. Rendell would have to eliminate when he talks about cutting state…
Media
Read More: State of Pennsylvania has 5,000 Vacant PositionsState Budget
What Do July Revenue Collections Mean?
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the July 2009 revenue collections yesterday. The state collected $1.65 billion in General Fund revenue in July. Normally, this report would include how…
Media
Read More: What Do July Revenue Collections Mean?State Budget
States Have Only Themselves to Blame for Fiscal Mess
Steve Chapman writes on Reason.com that there’s nothing surprising about the crises in state budgets though it apparently caught many governors and legislators by surprise. States dramatically increased spending…
Media
Read More: States Have Only Themselves to Blame for Fiscal MessState Budget
If Only Congress Passed an “Economics for Dummies” Program
It always amuses me to see “cash for clunkers” ads on TV these days. This government subsidized program, like hundreds of others, has been a tremendous failure. The transportation…
Media
Read More: If Only Congress Passed an “Economics for Dummies” ProgramState Budget
What the #$#! is Going on with Pennsylvania Budget?
If you are following any of the proceedings on the Pennsylvania budget – such as #pabudget on Twitter – you will find a lot has changed with nothing really…
Media
Read More: What the #$#! is Going on with Pennsylvania Budget?Health Care
The Two Big Lies of Health Care “Reform”
Here are a couple of good readings on health care policy: The Hoover Institution has a “second opinion” with ten reasons why health care in the U.S. is…
Media
Read More: The Two Big Lies of Health Care “Reform”Taxes & Economy
Where Were These Guys a Few Months Ago?
At a recent town-hall meeting, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said he had to ‘hold my nose’ over bailouts. I wish he had expressed some of those misgivings when…
Media
Read More: Where Were These Guys a Few Months Ago?Taxes & Economy
Energy Conservation Myth is a Vicious Cycle
Studies from the McKinsey group and National Research Council released this week claim that we can substantially reduce the country’s energy usage (15-32% by 2020) by replacing inefficient appliances…
Media
Read More: Energy Conservation Myth is a Vicious Cycle