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.”
Education
Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law
Testimony of Nathan A. Benefield to the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee, March 12, 2009 Good afternoon. I am Nathan Benefield, Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation. We…
Testimony
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State Employees Take Taxpayer-Funded Trips
Team 4 has an amazing exposé of taxpayer-funded travel by Pennsylvania state employees, in particular the gaming control board–after a travel ban was implement. Here are some of the…
Media
Read More: State Employees Take Taxpayer-Funded TripsTaxes & Economy
Scotland Students Need More Educational Choices
To plug a $2.3 billion deficit caused by overspending, Gov. Rendell has proposed closing the Scotland School for Veterans' Children. Although the $13 million in state funds the school received…
Commentary
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Funding for Cybers up For Debate
The Philadelphia Inquirer has a story about an upcoming hearing on charter schools and cyber school funding. As I will be testifying at the hearing, I won’t repeat my…
Media
Read More: Funding for Cybers up For DebatePublic Union Democracy
Quick Trivia Question
From Mark Perry – what do the 8 states states with the lowest January unemployment rates have in common? Answer – the are all Right to Work states.
Media
Read More: Quick Trivia QuestionState Budget
Obama’s Budget: More of the Same You Can Believe In
The Cato Institute’s Chris Edwards has the latest Tax and Budget bulletin, with an updated analysis of spending by president. The bulletin reiterates what Cato has been saying…
Media
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The Next Bailout – LexCorp?
Lex Luthor makes the case as to why he is deserving of a federal bailout on Funny or Die. My favorite part is “Superman just flew backwards around…
Media
Read More: The Next Bailout – LexCorp?State Budget
Sanford to Refuse Stimulus Funds – Example for Rendell
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has announced he will reject much of the federal stimulus dollars coming to his state. Like Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, he recognizes that…
Media
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Upcoming Opportunities for Students
The Commonwealth Foundation has a number of great opportunities for students to learn more about economics, public policy, and the importance of liberty. Please, No More Taxes! Video Contest- Win…
Media
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Stimulus Money to be used as Political Reward
From Pennsylvania Avenue (via Capitol Ideas), Congressman Brady thinks Governor Rendell should use stimulus money to reward Democrats who voted for the bill. Did you think the stimulus…
Media
Read More: Stimulus Money to be used as Political RewardPublic Union Democracy
The Attack on the Secret Ballot
Tom Gies has an article in The American on the Employee Free Choice Act, also known as card check, which would do away with the secret ballot in union…
Media
Read More: The Attack on the Secret BallotTaxes & Economy
Establishing the “Facts” about Pennsylvania’s Economy
Chuck Ardo – spokesman for Gov. Rendell – has an op-ed in Sunday’s Patriot News about what a great success Gov. Rendell’s economic policy has been. This taxpayer-funded propaganda…
Media
Read More: Establishing the “Facts” about Pennsylvania’s EconomyHealth Care
Will Rendell Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs?
Governor Rendell announced a number of new proposals increasing the number of people in Adult Basic health care, shifting funds to help with mortgage assistance and home heating cost.
Media
Read More: Will Rendell Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs?Taxes & Economy
On Specter’s Economic Remarks
Roxbury News has posted video of Arlen Specter’s remarks yesterday (part II here) at the State Capitol. Three things really bother me regarding his defense of his vote…
Media
Read More: On Specter’s Economic RemarksRegulation
Government liquor store monopoly hates perception of government monopoly
The quote of the day does to Joe Conti, head of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, who said in a story about customer service training for LCB clerks,…
Media
Read More: Government liquor store monopoly hates perception of government monopolyPublic Union Democracy
Warren Buffett on Card Check: Short and Sweet
Warren Buffett bluntly expressed his views on card check during CNBC’s Squawk Box this morning, saying that “the secret ballot is pretty important in this country.” Buffett adds his voice…
Media
Read More: Warren Buffett on Card Check: Short and SweetTaxes & Economy
Money Squanderers
Brad Bumsted has an excellent op-ed on why Pennsylvania lawmakers’ Bibles, gifts from the speaker, legal fees, and the like are just a few among many…
Media
Read More: Money SquanderersTaxes & Economy
Freedom in Pennsylvania and the 50 states
The Mercatus Center has a new report ranking freedom – both personal and economic – in the 50 states. Overall, they rank Pennsylvania 20th. See a related story…
Media
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Harrisburg Tea Party Pics and Videos
We had over 1,000 folks (some estimates higher, some a bit under 1,000) at today's Harrisburg Tea Party. Not knowing how many people to expect, I have to say…
Media
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What does a trillion dollars look like?
Since it is extremely difficult for most people to grasp enormous dollar amounts that government spends, e.g. $1 Trillion, we often have to resort to gimics, such as “spending $1…
Media
Read More: What does a trillion dollars look like?Regulation
State Bus Tour to Promote PA Lottery
From the “Are you kidding me?” department is this announcement that, despite a massive budget deficit, the state is launching a statewide bus tour to promote a new Pennsylvania…
Media
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