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
Good day for school choice in PA
The Commonwealth Court ruled that Chester-Upland school district could not limit the number of students enrolling in charter schools. Read the Philadelphia Inquirer story. About 40% of Chester-Upland student…
Media
Read More: Good day for school choice in PA
“Profit” ins’t a dirty word either
We received an email in response to the “‘Foreign’ is not a Dirty Word” Commentary. I won’t print that whole email, but the essence was that a private company…
Media
Read More: “Profit” ins’t a dirty word eitherRegulation
Plan would bar linking bonuses to pensions
Rep. Sean Ramaley proposes ending the pension bump from bonuses. Currently a bonus (or other compensation, such as “unvouchered expenses”) increases the salary used to calculate pensions for state…
Media
Read More: Plan would bar linking bonuses to pensionsGovernment Accountability
Campaign Finance Limits Destroy Democracy
Pennsylvania's Supreme Court recently upheld Philadelphia's law limiting the amount of money that an individual can contribute to a political candidate. While advocates of campaign contribution limits cheered the…
Commentary
Read More: Campaign Finance Limits Destroy Democracy
‘Foreign’ is not a dirty word
Great Op-Ed in the Post-Gazette by Todd Malan on the issue of “foreign” companies bidding on the Turnpike: Finally, if the bidding process is robust, the likely…
Media
Read More: ‘Foreign’ is not a dirty word
Rendell offers toll parameters for Turnpike Lease
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article covers Governor Rendell’s statements on a potential lease, with the headline that “Turnpike fare increases will be regulated”. The idea that a Turnpike lease would result…
Media
Read More: Rendell offers toll parameters for Turnpike LeaseTaxes & Economy
How important are elections?
Here are a couple of good commentaries on the importance of politics and elections. Though they draw the opposite conclusion, they follow a similar theme, and I find myself agreeing…
Media
Read More: How important are elections?Education
(Not) A closer look at Cyber Schools
IssuesPA has a new article on Cyber School Funding. They claim to provide “a closer look at the ongoing debate”, but don’t look any closer than quoting what some…
Media
Read More: (Not) A closer look at Cyber Schools
Bill for Turnpike Lobbying: $700,000
Joe Grata in the Post-Gazette with a look at the Turnpike Commission’s $700,000 in lobbying contracts for 2007 ($396,000 at the federal level and $316,000 for Harrisburg lobbyist –…
Media
Read More: Bill for Turnpike Lobbying: $700,000Government Accountability
Rendell Commits $126 Million in Secret Letters
Democracy Rising on the fundraising letters sent by Governor Rendell (most during the 2006 campaign) promising taxpayer funding to a variety of corporations. Topics on this page…
Media
Read More: Rendell Commits $126 Million in Secret LettersTaxes & Economy
Economic Freedom and Prosperity
The Heritage Foundation, in conjuction with the Wall Street Journal, released the Index of Economic Freedom 2008. The rankings have not change dramatically from past years, but what I…
Media
Read More: Economic Freedom and ProsperityPublic Union Democracy
Workers’ Rights Model Legislation
Evergreen Freedom Foundation has released a new report with model legislation to protect workers’ rights – including paycheck protection, right to work, and others.
Media
Read More: Workers’ Rights Model LegislationTaxes & Economy
Reagan’s Economy
Spokesman for the Clinton campaign, one-time economist, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman attempts to denounce Barack Obama for even mentioning Ronald Reagan without espousing anger and hatred towards…
Media
Read More: Reagan’s EconomyTaxes & Economy
U.S. Map of Religions
This map of most common religious denomination by county from Mark Perry’s blog is fascinating. Only a smattering of counties have a majority of one religion/denomination (with clushers…
Media
Read More: U.S. Map of ReligionsGovernment Accountability
States Resist REAL ID Implementation
Budget & Tax News update on pushback from states (and in Congress) against the REAL ID, with deadlines looming. Topics on this page Real ID Act…
Media
Read More: States Resist REAL ID ImplementationTaxes & Economy
Gas Taxes Are High Enough
US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters in the WSJ on how the gas tax is high enough, and how public-private partnerships can be a solution to transportation funding needs.
Media
Read More: Gas Taxes Are High EnoughTaxes & Economy
No Stimulus Gimmicks
Following Wednesday’s post about the lack of any economic gains of a short term “economic stimulus” plan, here are a number of recent comments on the subject. A commentary…
Media
Read More: No Stimulus Gimmicks
Turnpike’s defenders go on offense
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review story on how the beneficiaries defenders of the Turnpike Commission are stalling, claiming that Turnpike Tolls would be much higher under a private lease, and planning to…
Media
Read More: Turnpike’s defenders go on offenseGovernment Accountability
Are Secret Funding Letters Open Records?
PassOpenRecords.org asks if letters from Governor Rendell promising state funds to a variety of projects would be considered open records. They are looking for readers to comment on that…
Media
Read More: Are Secret Funding Letters Open Records?Government Accountability
Lawmakers Spend Hundreds Of Thousands To See If They Misspent Money
WGAL reports that state lawmakers spent $300,000 (mostly from House Democrats) on legal fees relating to the bonusgate investigation. The headline basically says it all. Props to freshmen Eugene…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Spend Hundreds Of Thousands To See If They Misspent MoneyTaxes & Economy
PA House Passes Tax Cuts
With a unanimous 197-0 vote, the Pennsylvania House Passed HB 377 which would: Roll back the Personal Income Tax rate to 2.80% over two years Reduce the Corporate Net…
Media
Read More: PA House Passes Tax Cuts