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.” 

A Conversation with Milton Friedman

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2007

Dallas Fed posts previously unreleased Conversation with Milton Friedman. Both audio and video available. Topics on this page Milton Friedman…

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Ethanol Backlash

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 12, 2007

Wall Street Journal article on how Congress is rethinking the negative effects of subsidizing and mandating use of ethanol. I don’t usually call on the PA General Assembly to…

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New life for turnpike-lease plan

  • November 12, 2007

Commonwealth Foundation’s Brouillette and Reason Foundation’s Gilroy in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer on the alternative to tolling I-80. Topics on this page Reason FoundationThe Philadelphia…

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Read More: New life for turnpike-lease plan

Republicans Radical on Health Care?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 9, 2007

Ramesh Ponnuru writes in Time Magazine that Republicans running for president have proposed more radical reforms in health care–seeking to tranform the system, rather than just preserve and extend…

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Picking how to pick judges

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 9, 2007

Brett Lieberman on the state party chairs now calling for “merit selection” of judges. Several points of irony: “Just a few years ago, Rooney, a former state representative from…

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Another Election, Another Victory for Citizens

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 9, 2007

Democracy Rising Pennsylvania on why Tuesday election was a victory for citizens: Voters had access to more and better information about judicial candidates than at any time in…

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Read More: Another Election, Another Victory for Citizens

The Strangest Use of Tax Dollars

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 8, 2007

Below is a bizzare video, paid for with Pennsylvania taxpayer dollars. Hat tip to The Club For Growth who report it cost $4,197. And over at NTU, they compute…

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Read More: The Strangest Use of Tax Dollars

More Reform Obituaries

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 8, 2007

Reformers’ next task: how to remain relevant – Morning CallTurn-’em-out drive failed – or did it? – Philadelphia InquirerA Rebuff to Reformers – Patriot News…

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Read More: More Reform Obituaries

A Voucher Defeat in Utah

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 8, 2007

Adam Schaeffer in the Wall Street Journal on why tax credits are a better tool for providing school choice than vouchers. Topics on this page The…

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Response to Reform is Not Dead!

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 8, 2007

There are two types of halftime speeches – the rousing “win one for the Gipper” speech and the in-your-face, “you are playing like a bunch of [explicatives]”. I tried to…

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Read More: Response to Reform is Not Dead!

Post-Election Wrap Up

  • November 7, 2007

All the results from Tuesday’s election are in- be sure to listen to THE BOX Program Saturday @ 8 am on WHP 580 AM for a “Post-Election Wrap…

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Poll: I-80 toll less popular than leasing the Pa. Turnpike

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 7, 2007

The Quinnipiac (I spelled it right on the first try) poll reveals that tolling I-80 is less popular than a Turnpike lease read the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review story or click…

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Read More: Poll: I-80 toll less popular than leasing the Pa. Turnpike

Reform is Not Dead! (yet)

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 7, 2007

John Micek already posed the question: Bad night all around for the Clean Sweepers. All the under-ticket state judges appear poised to hold onto their jobs as well.

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Read More: Reform is Not Dead! (yet)

Election News Roundup

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 7, 2007

Patriot News on Judicial Retentions and on Supreme Court Elections Inquirer on races in the Southeast and on the less competitive Philadelphia Mayor’s race. Post-Gazette on…

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Read More: Election News Roundup

Election Day Updates

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 6, 2007

GrassrootsPA is keeping running updates of elections news and reports from the polls, so that we don’t have to. John Micek is live blogging over at Capitol Ideas.

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Justifying Pork

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 6, 2007

Andrew Roth takes on the leading excuses for earmarks by Congress. These same excusses are used to defend WAMs and other corporate welfare in Pennsylvania (see here and…

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Consumer Driven Health Plans: Working as Intended

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 5, 2007

New report from Consumers for Health Care Choices on the effect of Consumer Driven Health Plans: When these programs were being considered, proponents said they would have several…

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Read More: Consumer Driven Health Plans: Working as Intended

A chance to end farm subsidies

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 5, 2007

Los Angeles Times editorial on the corporate welfare for rich farmers (including those in Manhattan). IDB has an op-ed of its own on the upcoming vote. Also…

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Read More: A chance to end farm subsidies

$2 million spent by PHEAA on giveaways

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 5, 2007

Jan Murphy of the Patriot News exposes more PHEAA expenses – including “giveaways” such as golf balls, LL Bean Jackets, and T-Shirts bearing the PHEAA logo, I-Pods and DVD…

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Read More: $2 million spent by PHEAA on giveaways