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
PA is 29th Best State for Small Business
The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council has a new ranking of the best state tax systems for small business. Pennsylvania ranks 29th (1 being the best). Click here…
Media
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Coverage of Ted Nugent at LiveFreePA
Some coverage of our inaugural Live Free PA event featuring Ted Nugent. Lancaster Online: Open Season: Guitarist Ted Nugent rocks local crowd with riffs on gun control and…
Media
Read More: Coverage of Ted Nugent at LiveFreePAPublic Union Democracy
Prevailing Wage Law Harms Philadelphias Black Workers
Since construction began on the Philadelphia Convention Center, the city's black construction workers have protested, with good reason, the lack of opportunity for minority workers on public construction projects. Unwilling…
Commentary
Read More: Prevailing Wage Law Harms Philadelphias Black WorkersPublic Union Democracy
The Cost of Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage Law
Apparently my recent commentary on Philadelphia’s prevailing wages has stirred the city’s union waters, so I am posting the data analysis to support the article’s statement: The…
Media
Read More: The Cost of Pennsylvania’s Prevailing Wage LawTaxes & Economy
Should State Taxpayers Fund Television
Governor Rendell has proposed cutting funding for the Pennsylvania Public Television Network (about $12 million) from the state budget for next year. This has obviously led those who receive taxpayer…
Media
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Club for Growth Congressional Scorecard
The Club for Growth has released its 2008 Congressional Scorecard of votes on key economic, pro growth legislation. Click here for the breakdown of roll call votes by…
Media
Read More: Club for Growth Congressional ScorecardTaxes & Economy
Financial Bailout Oversight & Transparency – Failure
Story from CNN Money covers testimony from the special inspector overseeing the TARP program, i.e. the financial bailout (HT Brian Ellis): Barofsky said his top concern was…
Media
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Come to PA
According to Chris Barrett, president and chief executive officer of the Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau, state spending on tourism should be brought back up to it’s 2008-09…
Media
Read More: Come to PAPublic Union Democracy
PA’s Prevailing Wage Law – Abused and Misused
A federal court today issued an injunction against the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) in its effort to “debar” the firm Worth & Company from bidding on…
Media
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PA House Rejects Cell Phone Ban
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted down an amendment that would ban (subject to a $50 fine) using hand-held cell phones while driving, follow a debate of several hours.
Media
Read More: PA House Rejects Cell Phone BanTaxes & Economy
Electricity: Phase-In Legislation Passes Committee
Yesterday, the Consumer Affairs Committee unanimously approved legislation that would phase-in higher electricity rates over a three year period. Rates for PPL residential customers are expected to increase…
Media
Read More: Electricity: Phase-In Legislation Passes CommitteeTaxes & Economy
Obama’s Joke: “Cut $100 Million from the Federal Budget”
President Obama has told his cabinet he want to them to cut $100 million from the federal budget to demonstrate fiscal responsibility. While $100 million is certainly a lot…
Media
Read More: Obama’s Joke: “Cut $100 Million from the Federal Budget”Taxes & Economy
School Board Transparency Recognized
Carlisle School Board member Fred Baldwin wins award for Commonwealth Foundation project promoting open school district labor negotiations HARRISBURG, PA — Fred Baldwin, manager of the Commonwealth Foundation’s School Board…
Press Release
Read More: School Board Transparency RecognizedState Budget
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2009
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released the April revenue collections showing state General Fund revenues are $2.55 billion short for the fiscal year to date. Governor Rendell had estimated…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: May 2009Government Accountability
Big Government, Big Corruption
Dan Mitchell from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity links the connection between government growth and corruption in this clip. He notes that rather than promoting honest dealings,…
Media
Read More: Big Government, Big CorruptionGovernment Accountability
Audit: PA Not Ready for Stimulus Oversight
Auditor General Jack Wagner believes Pennsylvania is ill-suited to provide transparency and oversight on the stimulus money coming to the state in a letter he sent to the federal Government…
Media
Read More: Audit: PA Not Ready for Stimulus OversightTaxes & Economy
Energy Facts and Myths
The Manhattan Institute has release an new edition of their publication, Energy and the Environment: Facts and Myths. A great tool for both interested citizens and for policy makers,…
Media
Read More: Energy Facts and MythsTaxes & Economy
Polling on Tea Parties
Rasmussen has an interesting poll on people’s attitudes toward recent tea parties (top line results), finding that 51% of respondents have favorable views of Tea Parties (vs 33%…
Media
Read More: Polling on Tea PartiesTaxes & Economy
The Un-Silent Majority
Nearly 10,000 Pennsylvanians rallied on Tax Day, April 15th, against wasteful government spending, high and rising taxes, and burgeoning government debt and deficits. The nonpartisan, anti-establishment “Tea Parties” were held…
Commentary
Read More: The Un-Silent MajorityState Budget
Murtha Gets Earmark for Murtha Airport
This has been making the rounds, but the Washington Post has a detailed article about how Congressman Jack Murtha has gotten hundreds of millions of dollars over the years,…
Media
Read More: Murtha Gets Earmark for Murtha AirportTaxes & Economy
Latest Pennsylvania Job Numbers (March 2009)
According to the State Department of Labor and Industry, Pennsylvania lost 30,500 jobs in March alone. The data indicate that since the recession began – officially in…
Media
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