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
Harrisburg’s Most Powerful Special Interest
New policy brief addresses the impact of unions on public education HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today released Pennsylvania State Education Association: Compelling Teachers, Marginalizing Students, Lobbying Politicians &…
Press Release
Read More: Harrisburg’s Most Powerful Special InterestHealth Care
Medicaid reform: For the poor and the poor taxpayer
Cross-Posted at Capital Domes The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review recently looked at the looming budget shortfall and its potential impact on Medicaid spending. The legislature couldn’t simply…
Media
Read More: Medicaid reform: For the poor and the poor taxpayerTaxes & Economy
Free markets are under attack again
Matt Welch has an excellent article on Reason Magazine on the financial bailout and the debate over the role of government and the free market: President George…
Media
Read More: Free markets are under attack againHealth Care
Government Health Care Kills
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is calling on the Pennsylvania Senate leadership to break their pledge not to hold a lame duck session. Among Rendell’s rhetorical arguments is that “nearly…
Media
Read More: Government Health Care KillsHealth Care
Ten Pennsylvanians Die Each Day from Government Health Insurance
Uninsured citizens fare better than government insured HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today illustrated the absurdity of Gov. Ed Rendell’s politically motivated claim that “two Pennsylvanians die each…
Press Release
Read More: Ten Pennsylvanians Die Each Day from Government Health InsuranceEducation
National Campaign for School Choice Launched
Our friends at the Alliance for School Choice have launched a new campaign – Let Parents Choose – aimed at recruiting 10,000 activists and supporters of school choice.
Media
Read More: National Campaign for School Choice LaunchedGovernment Accountability
Bailout Transparency Fading Fast
The Tribune-Review reports Bloomberg News has filed a FOIA and a federal lawsuit seeking to force the disclosure of recipients who received $2 trillion in emergency loans from…
Media
Read More: Bailout Transparency Fading FastGovernment Accountability
Book Review: The Best-Laid Plans
Fans of The Road to Serfdom will recognize the dangers of government planning. Unfortunately, government planning has become even more prevalent in the US since Hayek’s warning. Randal O’Toole’s book…
Media
Read More: Book Review: The Best-Laid PlansPublic Union Democracy
Worker Freedom Ensures Economic Prosperity
Along with the rest of the nation, Pennsylvania is struggling to rebound from the recent economic turmoil. Unfortunately, being a compulsory union state puts the Commonwealth at a marked disadvantage.
Commentary
Read More: Worker Freedom Ensures Economic ProsperityEducation
School Choice Improves Student Learning
While evidence on school choice programs in the US indicates both benefits for student recipients and competitive benefits for public schools (not to mention greater parental satisfaction…
Media
Read More: School Choice Improves Student LearningTaxes & Economy
Detroit Auto Makers Need More Than a Bailout
A mostly on-target piece in the Wall Street Journal explains why a blank check to the Detroit automakers won’t solve their problems: In return for any direct…
Media
Read More: Detroit Auto Makers Need More Than a BailoutGovernment Accountability
Book Review: Income and Wealth
Alan Reynold’s Income and Wealth offers a primer on data on income, taxes, and the economy, and counters some of the most popular myths, usually circulated by left-wing groups…
Media
Read More: Book Review: Income and WealthEducation
PA Charter School Laws 12th Strongest in the Nation
The Center for Education Reform ranks Pennsylvania 12th out of 41 states in their 2008 survey of America’s Charter Schools. In…
Media
Read More: PA Charter School Laws 12th Strongest in the NationEducation
Tax Credits Lend Helping Hand to Families
The Goldwater Institute has an interesting article on urban legends about Arizona scholarship tax credits. Some people think they benefit only the rich. Turns out Arizona tax credits are…
Media
Read More: Tax Credits Lend Helping Hand to FamiliesState Budget
Taxpayers still buying promotional calendars for lawmakers
Dennis Owens of ABC 27 has a story that the latest Capitol Calendars (“courtesy” of your legislator) are now available. Owens recalled our breakdown of the cost of…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers still buying promotional calendars for lawmakersHealth Care
Taxes, Health Care, and GOP Strategists
Fox News has an article about the future of the GOP, and its search for rising starts. It is a pretty good piece, except for comments by Republican strategist…
Media
Read More: Taxes, Health Care, and GOP StrategistsPublic Union Democracy
Voters still like limited government, lower taxes
A poll from the Club For Growth surveyed voters in 12 competitive Congressional districts; eleven of the 12 switched hands from Republican to Democrat following Tuesday’s elections. The results…
Media
Read More: Voters still like limited government, lower taxesRegulation
Massive Budget Hole Awaits New Legislature
Commonwealth’s revenue shortfall grows to $560 million HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation today warned the newly minted General Assembly that it must immediately heed the voters’ call for “change”…
Press Release
Read More: Massive Budget Hole Awaits New LegislatureRegulation
The Fight for Free Speech in Philadelphia
This week Americans exercised their right to vote, but three tour guides in Philadelphia are fighting to keep their right to free speech. In July three tour guides sued…
Media
Read More: The Fight for Free Speech in PhiladelphiaTaxes & Economy
The end of Big Government Conservatism?
Following John McCain’s loss, conservatives and pundits will start looking to offer an explanation. To keep it simple, let me say this: The financial bailout killed whatever chance McCain’s had.
Media
Read More: The end of Big Government Conservatism?Government Accountability
Turnout in Pennsylvania Declines
HT to Grassroots PA for this story – Turnout in Pennsylvania not only didn’t break records, it declined (both as a percentage of registered voters and in total…
Media
Read More: Turnout in Pennsylvania Declines