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.” 

No single solution to transportation crisis

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 30, 2007

Robert Latham takes us (along with the Turnpike Commission) to task in an Patriot News op-ed. Among the charges lobbed our way is that we are pushing a Turnpike…

Media

Read More: No single solution to transportation crisis

JoePa makes more than me.

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 29, 2007

Penn State is ruined! At least that is what their lawyers claimed would happen if they had to reveal Joe Paterno’s salary. But the state Supreme Court ruled that the…

Media

Read More: JoePa makes more than me.

Act 44/Turnpike Links

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 29, 2007

Act 44 Information: Act 44 and Transportation Policy Points I-80 Lease and other documents Morgan-Stanley report Rendell on CNBC – “Act 44 wasn’t good enough” IRRPP…

Media

Read More: Act 44/Turnpike Links

I-80 toll meeting gets ugly in Bloomsburg

  • November 29, 2007

Apparently the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s “Peace Tour” isn’t promoting much peace along the I-80 corridor. The Pocono Record reports that Tempers flared again later…

Media

Read More: I-80 toll meeting gets ugly in Bloomsburg

More on REAL ID

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 29, 2007

More on the topic of our REAL ID Budget & Tax News update on REAL ID in the states. From Cato: The REAL ID Act: An Update…

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Read More: More on REAL ID

FreedomWorks calls for Repeal of Act 44

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 28, 2007

Freedom Works has joined in the calls for repeal of Act 44 – the Transportation Funding scheme of borrowing, raising Turnpike tolls, and tolling I-80 to fund road…

Media

Read More: FreedomWorks calls for Repeal of Act 44

Rendell-Lite alternate energy bills advance

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 28, 2007

The PA Senate keeps pushing forward alternative energy legislation, or “Rendell Lite.” One of the bills would “provide a $1 state subsidy for each gallon of biofuel, made…

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Read More: Rendell-Lite alternate energy bills advance

Britney Spears to adopt?!?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 28, 2007

My first thought on reading the headline “Britney Spears to adopt Chinese twins” was that it was a cruel joke. My second thought, on reading the story, was that…

Media

Read More: Britney Spears to adopt?!?

Another “Is Reform Dead” Editorial

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 27, 2007

Madonna and Young’s Politically Uncorrected attempts to assess “the reform movement” (which as a monicker needs to be killed). They are generally accurate in their assessment of the lack…

Media

Read More: Another “Is Reform Dead” Editorial

The Milton Friedman Choir on School Choice

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 27, 2007

The Milton Friedman Choir sings the School Choice Song Hat Tip to The Sam Adams Alliance, via the NTU Blog Topics on this page…

Media

Read More: The Milton Friedman Choir on School Choice

Blaim Steelers’ Fans for Soggy Field

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 27, 2007

A lot has been made about the condition of the field during last night’s Steelers-Dolphins game. First off let me say that was a great football game, and anyone who…

Media

Read More: Blaim Steelers’ Fans for Soggy Field

A new rathole

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 27, 2007

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on the use of taxpayer money to conduct political polls. Topics on this page Pittsburgh Tribune-Review…

Media

Read More: A new rathole

State bonus investigation a step ahead of shredders

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 26, 2007

Post-Gazette article on how the Attorney General’s investigation into Bonusgate is prevent House Democrats from recycling paper. Topics on this page Pittsburgh Post-Gazette…

Media

Read More: State bonus investigation a step ahead of shredders

New oil refineries needed

  • November 26, 2007

A commentary in the Washington Times notes that “A recent report shows the energy bill being negotiated between the House and the Senate would dramatically increase energy (including gasoline)…

Media

Read More: New oil refineries needed

Turnpike Commission’s version of MiniTru

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 26, 2007

Turnpike Commission Vice-Chair and bond attorney Tim Carson in the Morning Call offers a rebuttal to the Brouillette-Gilroy Commentary. Carson’s editorial is as accurate as an Enron…

Media

Read More: Turnpike Commission’s version of MiniTru

The Tragedy of the Commons

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 21, 2007

John Stossel on the lost lesson of Thanksgiving: When the Pilgrims first settled the Plymouth Colony, they organized their farm economy along communal lines. The goal was to…

Media

Read More: The Tragedy of the Commons

Turnpike temerity: Stop the games!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 21, 2007

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on the Turnpike Commission’s shenanigans. Topics on this page Pittsburgh Tribune-Review…

Media

Read More: Turnpike temerity: Stop the games!

The Most Important Election of Our Time

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 20, 2007

What happens when there is a tie for election? Run off? Coin Flip? Supreme Court case? Duel to the death? Rock Paper Scissors? In the case of the Wormleysburg Assessors…

Media

Read More: The Most Important Election of Our Time

A new effort on open-records bill

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 20, 2007

Bill DeWeese is planning to push an amendment to the House open records bill, which would strengthen it, making it like the Senate bill, but applying to the…

Media

Read More: A new effort on open-records bill