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.”
Convert state pensions to defined contribution
Senator Pat Browne has an op-ed in The Morning Call on the need to reform our public pension systems and the legislation he will be sponsoring in the…
Media
Read More: Convert state pensions to defined contribution
Beyond Those Health Care Numbers
Greg Mankiw in the New York Times on the misuse of health care statistics – life expectancy, “47 million uninsured,” and costs of health care. Topics on this…
Media
Read More: Beyond Those Health Care Numbers
Scarnati submits op-ed by Turnpike Commission
Frothing at the mouth, President Pro-Tem Joe Scarnati cites the “evil foreign company” argument as to why he won’t allow consideration of a Turnpike lease (even though several…
Media
Read More: Scarnati submits op-ed by Turnpike Commission
Last Chance to Learn About Judges
Here are surveys/info about the judges up for election and retention: Democracy Rising Judicial SurveyPennsylvania Family Institute Voters’ Guide PA League of Women’s Voters Voters’…
Media
Read More: Last Chance to Learn About Judges
Stadiums and Subsidies: Home Run for Wealthy Team Owners, Strike-out for Taxpayers
National Taxpayers Union has put out a new analysis of taxpayer subsidized professional sports studiums.
Media
Read More: Stadiums and Subsidies: Home Run for Wealthy Team Owners, Strike-out for Taxpayers
Why we blog
Nicholas Carr thinks Greg Mankiw should stop blogging. His rationale is the economic concept of “comparative advantage” – that is, Greg Mankiw is a brilliant economist and should…
Media
Read More: Why we blog
For-Profit Philly Schools show math gains
A new study finds that for-profit school management led to math test score gains in Philadelphia (News Release and AP Story): “The impact of for-profit…
Media
Read More: For-Profit Philly Schools show math gains
More on Free Markets v. Socialized Medicine
In response to the criticisms of cancer survival statistics used in a Giuliani ad, David Grazter has defended his statistic and provides additional data about survival rates…
Media
Read More: More on Free Markets v. Socialized Medicine
Peterson Calls on Turnpike Commission to Pull False, Toll-Funded Ads
Congressman Peterson calls on the Turnpike Commission to stop buying ads using toll revenue, that he calls a “misleading, disingenuous toll-paid media campaign, promoting the tolling of Interstate 80”.
Media
Read More: Peterson Calls on Turnpike Commission to Pull False, Toll-Funded Ads
Another Great Milton Friedman Video
In this 30 minute video, Friedman explains why he is a “liberal,” not a “conservative; what is wrong with minimum wage laws (and why they are used to discriminate);…
Media
Read More: Another Great Milton Friedman Video
Audit: Management of Pa. business grants was lax
More criticism of the lack of monitoring, accountability, and compliance with laws in the state’s corporate welfare programs, this time from the Auditor’s office. Click here for the AP…
Media
Read More: Audit: Management of Pa. business grants was lax
Open Records Bills Updates
Jamie Blaine at PassOpenRecords.org on the House and Senate open records bills. UPDATE: Details of the Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition (PaFOIC) and PA Newspaper Association Forum…
Media
Read More: Open Records Bills Updates
Government Health Insurance Kills
Somebody needs to fact check FactCheck, like me. The group FactCheck.org issued a “fact check” on an ad by Rudy Giuliani comparing health care in the UK and…
Media
Read More: Government Health Insurance Kills
Great Milton Friedman Video
In 2 minutes, Milton Friedman explains the errors of socialism, the benefits of free markets, and public choice theory, all while making Donahue look silly. HT: The…
Media
Read More: Great Milton Friedman Video
Pension Resources
As you may have heard, Rep Scott Boyd introduced a pension reform bill (News Release) – based on some of our recommendations and research. More information and resources: Rep…
Media
Read More: Pension ResourcesRegulation
Public Pension Reform Introduced
Commonwealth Foundation applauds legislation to enroll new public employees in more predictable, affordable “Defined-Contribution” pension plan HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation joined Rep. Scott Boyd (R-Lampeter), Sen. Pat Browne…
Press Release
Read More: Public Pension Reform Introduced
Which schools are “Dropout Factories”?
ABC 27 Harrisburg, ABC 6 Philadelphia, Carlisle Sentinel, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Philadelphia Daily News and others have all had stories about “Dropout Factories” – i.e. schools…
Media
Read More: Which schools are “Dropout Factories”?
Critics say open records bill not open enough
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on the Senate open records bill and its many weaknesses, in light of improvements we support: Common Cause/Pennsylvania Executive Director Barry Kauffman called the…
Media
Read More: Critics say open records bill not open enough
No I-80 Tolls = Less money for SEPTA
The Turnpike Commission posted a summary of Lease and Funding agreement for tolling I-80. Not too much new here except for one major inconsistency … $300 million shall be…
Media
Read More: No I-80 Tolls = Less money for SEPTA
Big Government draws Lobbyist Gifts
In another exposé of how Harrisburg works, Peter Jackson of the AP looks at the lobbyist spending and gift-giving. Why all the money ? Health care lobbyists want to…
Media
Read More: Big Government draws Lobbyist Gifts
What do Liberals and Conservatives like?
Patrick Ruffini’s blog does an analysis of Facebook data to determine what conservatives, liberals, and moderates enjoy: Radiohead Republicans … There just aren’t that many of them…
Media
Read More: What do Liberals and Conservatives like?