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
More on the Proposed Bailout
More responses and info about the proposed federal bailout: Club for Growth Condemns Federal Bailout Reason: Assessing the $700 billion bailout NTU: Taxpayers are Sick…
Media
Read More: More on the Proposed BailoutTaxes & Economy
“Leasing Turnpike Jeopardizes Safety”
… so said a commentary distributed by the Susquehanna Valley Center (see below). Either they didn’t bother to read the lease agreement or they are intentionally trying to mislead the…
Media
Read More: “Leasing Turnpike Jeopardizes Safety”Education
Pittsburgh Schools: we can’t teach so give them better grades
The Pittsburgh Schools established a new policy that sets 50% as minimum score. (HT Grassroots PA). That is, if you missed all the questions on the test, you…
Media
Read More: Pittsburgh Schools: we can’t teach so give them better gradesGovernment Accountability
Bonus Ban(s) pass House State Government
After numerous complaints about the lack of action on reform bills (including from yours truly) the House State Government committee today voted to send two “bonus ban” bills…
Media
Read More: Bonus Ban(s) pass House State GovernmentPublic Union Democracy
Union Against Union
Talk about ironic: the Oregon Education Association is facing a strike, but not from its own members. The organization that helps the OEA file grievances and negotiate contracts, OEA Professional…
Media
Read More: Union Against UnionState Budget
Check out Pork Parade
Congressman Jeff Flake has a new website to expose Pork from Washington. To contribute to the discussion, you can twitter with the code #pork. Twitter users can also…
Media
Read More: Check out Pork ParadeTaxes & Economy
Rendell not to blame for sagging PA economy
The lastest state job numbers indicate that Pennsylvania has 100,000 more unemployed persons that one year ago. Yet, Governor Rendell announces that this is due to national trends -his…
Media
Read More: Rendell not to blame for sagging PA economyTaxes & Economy
Thoughts on the bailout plan
Heritage Foundation has a Webmemo on the federal plans to bail out the mortgage market, along with a list of recommendations. You can get the legislation…
Media
Read More: Thoughts on the bailout planTaxes & Economy
Indiana Toll Road private operator eliminates tolls to help in flood
Despite not being required to by the lease agreement, the private operator of the Indiana Toll Road — an “evil foreign” consortium of Spanish and Australian companies — suspended the…
Media
Read More: Indiana Toll Road private operator eliminates tolls to help in floodTaxes & Economy
Gas tax increase coming instead of Turnpike lease?
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says Rendell is looking at a gas tax increase in light of the refusal of legislative leaders to consider the lease. “To make up the shortfall, we’re…
Media
Read More: Gas tax increase coming instead of Turnpike lease?Taxes & Economy
Senate Republican Leader Chooses Turnpike Commission Over Taxpayers
Senate Republican Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi told the AP that he won’t allow a debate or vote to occur on the Senate floor regarding the leasing of the Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Senate Republican Leader Chooses Turnpike Commission Over TaxpayersPublic Union Democracy
More Union Dues spent on Politics
The Union Label blog writes on how AFSCME (the union for government workers) is using union dues to attack candidates for office (see USA Today story as well).
Media
Read More: More Union Dues spent on PoliticsTaxes & Economy
The Worst Energy Ideas of 2008
The American Magazine has an article on the worst energy ideas, including: “energy independence,” and “green jobs”. On that front, Pete DuPont has a WSJ column on the…
Media
Read More: The Worst Energy Ideas of 2008Taxes & Economy
Supporters Argue for Turnpike Lease
ABC 27 News story on the Turnpike Lease, featuring the motley crew of supporters: Matt Brouillette, Gov. Ed Rendell, Howard Yerusalim (former PennDOT Secretary under Bob Casey) and Rep.Dan…
Media
Read More: Supporters Argue for Turnpike LeaseTaxes & Economy
Are lower taxes unpatriotic?
Alex Charyna from PA Watercooler told me we are being unpatriotic. Why? While we are calling for budgetary measures to avoid higher taxes, Joe Biden is telling us…
Media
Read More: Are lower taxes unpatriotic?Taxes & Economy
Current State Spending = Future Tax Increase?
Budget revenue shortfalls on track to produce multi-billion dollar tax increase in 2009 HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation joined State Rep. Sam Rohrer, State Senator John Eichelberger,…
Press Release
Read More: Current State Spending = Future Tax Increase?Government Accountability
Election Protection – The Nation’s Largest Nonpartisan Voter Protection Coalition (Draft)
Election Protection – The Nation’s Largest Nonpartisan Voter Protection Coalition…
Media
Read More: Election Protection – The Nation’s Largest Nonpartisan Voter Protection Coalition (Draft)Taxes & Economy
Scarnati’s “Save the Turnpike Commission” Plan
In an obvious attempt to divert attention from his vote and support of tolling Interstate-80, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati writes today in a Courier Express commentary that…
Media
Read More: Scarnati’s “Save the Turnpike Commission” PlanGovernment Accountability
Follow the Commonwealth Foundation on Twitter
The Commonwealth Foundation is now on Twitter. If you Twitter, or thinking of signing up to show how young and hip you are (do the young and hip still…
Media
Read More: Follow the Commonwealth Foundation on TwitterGovernment Accountability
Discharge resolution on bonus ban bill
Representative Brad Roae sends us this regarding his discharge resolution for SB 986, the “Bonus Ban” “On Monday I turned in a Discharge Resolution to pull the bill…
Media
Read More: Discharge resolution on bonus ban billPublic Union Democracy
AFSCME opposes unlimited government?!?
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (which runs 14 state universities, but not the “state-related” schools like Penn State and Pitt), banned all smoking on campus, both indoor and…
Media
Read More: AFSCME opposes unlimited government?!?