Erik Telford

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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.” 

The Gospel of Paul

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 14, 2007

Wall Street Journal’s Kimberley Strassell on the lessons of Ron Paul. Take note: “Compassionate conservatism” was a smart move on George W. Bush’s part, maybe even…

Media

Read More: The Gospel of Paul

REJECTED: Application to Toll I-80

  • December 13, 2007

Federal government sends Turnpike proposal to tax I-80 drivers back to the drawing board HARRISBURG, PA — Today, in response to the federal government’s rejection of plans to…

Press Release

Read More: REJECTED: Application to Toll I-80

Feds Decline I-80 Toll Application (Told you so)

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 13, 2007

The FHWA has declined the state’s application to toll I-80. Paul Nussbuam in the Inquirer reports: Pennsylvania is seeking authority to toll I-80 under a federal pilot program…

Media

Read More: Feds Decline I-80 Toll Application (Told you so)

Taxpayer money for soccer?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 13, 2007

Its looking more likely that taxpayers will buy a new soccer stadium. Paris Hilton Gov. Rendell, who never has enough money to hand out: “It seems to me there…

Media

Read More: Taxpayer money for soccer?

Pa. Senate approves “Rendell Lite”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 13, 2007

With an easy 44-5 vote, the PA Senate approved spending $650M over 10 years on alternative energy. With this vote, Senate Republicans have drawn a line in the sand:…

Media

Read More: Pa. Senate approves “Rendell Lite”

The Freshman Earmarkers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 12, 2007

I’ve heard of the “freshmen fifteen”, but how about the freshmen $70 million? The six freshmen members of congress who have delivered the most in “earmarks” all hail from PA,…

Media

Read More: The Freshman Earmarkers

Turnpike Bond Attorney defends Turnpike Bonding

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 12, 2007

The Patriot News ran Tim Carson’s defense of Act 44 today. I pointed out his six inaccurate claims in an earlier blog post, including the hilarious knee-slapper “I…

Media

Read More: Turnpike Bond Attorney defends Turnpike Bonding

Congressman wants probe of Fumo link to I-80 toll bid

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 12, 2007

Congressman Peterson has asked the Inspector General at US DOT to look into the Sen. Fumo-Turnpike Commission connection, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Apparently he thinks that when an indicted…

Media

Read More: Congressman wants probe of Fumo link to I-80 toll bid

A Health-Insurance Solution

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 12, 2007

Merrill Matthews in the Wall Street Journal on John Shadegg’s Congressional proposal to allow individuals to purchase health insurance from any state. He uses the example of New Jersey…

Media

Read More: A Health-Insurance Solution

Legislators Seek ‘Accountability’ For Cyber Charters

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 11, 2007

Article in today’s Evening Bulletin on the battle over cyber schools. Karen Beyer claims that “school choice proponents have paid lobbyists a sizeable amount to argue against HB 446:…

Media

Read More: Legislators Seek ‘Accountability’ For Cyber Charters

More I-80 Tolling Opposition

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 11, 2007

Another letter from state lawmakers to US Transportation Secretary Mary Peters on I-80 tolling. This one from the “I-80 House Coalition” – twelve Republican House members with I-80 running…

Media

Read More: More I-80 Tolling Opposition

Supreme Court Fight Club

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 11, 2007

The state Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a grand jury could continue investigate Louis DeNaples, owner of Mount Airy Casino. Of course, John Baer broke this story over…

Media

Read More: Supreme Court Fight Club

Calendar Update

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 11, 2007

Our first batch of Capitol Calendars for Property Tax Relief are now for sale on eBay.(Click here for details). The latest Democracy Rising newsletter features a…

Media

Read More: Calendar Update

Uninsured will grow under RendellCare

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 10, 2007

Pop quiz: The Rendell administration has estimated that 800,000 Pennsylvania adults are currently uninsured. If Governor Rendell’s “Cover All Pennsylvanians” were implemented as designed – costing up to $1.4 billion…

Media

Read More: Uninsured will grow under RendellCare

The (Tax) War Between the States

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 10, 2007

Art Laffer and Steven Moore in today’s Wall Street Journal look at how tax competitiveness between states (i.e. lower taxes) results in greater population and economic growth: Of…

Media

Read More: The (Tax) War Between the States

Calendars for Property Tax Relief

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 10, 2007

ave your Capitol Calendars! You know those calendars you get from state legislators, which come with “Compliments of [Your Legislator]”, though they were paid with…

Media

Read More: Calendars for Property Tax Relief

Arthur Laffer on taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 9, 2007

Interesting conversation with Arthur Laffer on the effect of tax cuts in The Curious Capitalist blog. Also check out Laffer’s response to “Crackpot Economics” Topics on this…

Media

Read More: Arthur Laffer on taxes

A Zero-Sum Wealth Quiz

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 7, 2007

Coyote Blog takes on the zero-sum game myth of wealth and the economy, with a simple comparison of the rich of 100 years ago and the middle class of…

Media

Read More: A Zero-Sum Wealth Quiz

All’s good, according to Bill DeWeese

  • Nathan Benefield
  • December 7, 2007

Pennsyltucky Politics gets a positive prognosis from Bill DeWeese (along with some choice words about Patriot News reporter Charlie Thompson, “slithering around in his usual unkempt reptilian fashion.”) DeWeese…

Media

Read More: All’s good, according to Bill DeWeese