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.” 

We’re #2

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 22, 2007

PolicyBlog has been named #2 on Pennsylvania’s Most Influential Political blogs by BlogNetNews. I’m not really sure what goes into the rankings (but I think linking to the ratings…

Media

Read More: We’re #2

Indiana Toll Road Better Under Private Management?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 22, 2007

This letter in the Tribune Review covers why the Indiana Toll Road is better since it was leased under competitive bidding. It is in response to an earlier letter…

Media

Read More: Indiana Toll Road Better Under Private Management?

Act 44 borrowing ($532 million) to begin

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 22, 2007

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the PA Turnpike Commission will issue over $500 million in bonds this week as part of its payment to PennDOT. The debt will be paid…

Media

Read More: Act 44 borrowing ($532 million) to begin

FWHA to PennDOT: I-80 not “done deal”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 19, 2007

A letter from the Federal Highway Administration to PennDOT Secretary Biehler makes clear that tolling for I-80 is not a “done deal” as PA Turnpike chief Brimmeier has allegedly…

Media

Read More: FWHA to PennDOT: I-80 not “done deal”

Poll on Judicial Retention – My Take

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 19, 2007

Triad Strategies and Susquehanna Polling released a very intersting poll on voter attitudes toward the November retention elections. Unfortunately, their analysis is all wrong. They found 63% of voters…

Media

Read More: Poll on Judicial Retention – My Take

Taxes & Economy

I-80 lease signed BEFORE details were finalized?

  • October 19, 2007

HARRISBURG, PA — Today, more troubling information was revealed in the ongoing dispute over whether or not the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)…

Press Release

Read More: I-80 lease signed BEFORE details were finalized?

Back to the drawing board on Transportation bill

  • October 19, 2007

Williamsport Sun-Gazette editorializes in favor of the solution proffered by the Commonwealth Foundation on solving our transportation funding needs…without tolling I-80: We’ll restate the better solution: Privatize…

Media

Read More: Back to the drawing board on Transportation bill

I-80 lease signed with missing details

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 19, 2007

Philadelphia Inquirer on the controversy over when the I-80 lease agreement was signed: Yesterday, the agencies said their lawyers had continued to work on details of the…

Media

Read More: I-80 lease signed with missing details

House Open Records bill weakened

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 19, 2007

AP story can be found here Reading Eagle story on Rep. Caltagirone (a cosponsor) withdrawing support following the changes. Topics on this page Associated Press…

Media

Read More: House Open Records bill weakened

Brouillette on PCN

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 18, 2007

Today’s hearing on Transportation Funding and Public Private Partnerships will be airing several times on the Pennsylvania Cable Network over the next few days. 8:35 pm tonight (Thursday)10:35…

Media

Read More: Brouillette on PCN

The Benefits of Public-Private Partnerships in Transportation

  • Matthew Brouillette
  • October 18, 2007

Prepared Testimony of Matthew J. Brouillette for the House Republican Policy Committee Hearing on October 18, 2007 Thank you Rep. Turzai, Rep. Geist, and members of the House Republican Policy…

Testimony

Read More: The Benefits of Public-Private Partnerships in Transportation

Taxes & Economy

I-80 Lease Signed After Deadline

  • October 18, 2007

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s statements support Commonwealth Foundation’s assertions HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation reasserted its claim that a lease agreement between the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC)…

Press Release

Read More: I-80 Lease Signed After Deadline

When was I-80 lease signed?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 18, 2007

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is claiming they complied with Act 44 deadlines, and impugns our news release on the issue. In an October 17 news release, the PTC stated,…

Media

Read More: When was I-80 lease signed?

There Are Better Ways to Insure Kids

  • October 18, 2007

Today, Congress plans to try to override President Bush’s veto of the SCHIP expansion. Yesterday, the Democrat-controlled Pennsylvania House of Representatives spent hours debating a resolution to condemn President Bush’s…

Media

Read More: There Are Better Ways to Insure Kids

How to Argue against SCHIP

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 17, 2007

While the PA House is currently debating a resolution to encourage members of Congress to override President Bush’s veto of SCHIP (granted, marginally less wasteful of time and resources than…

Media

Read More: How to Argue against SCHIP

Senator Folmer Unveils “Healthy Pennsylvania”

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 17, 2007

State Senator Mike Folmer has unveiled his Healthy Pennsylvania proposal – a series of health care reforms, that would promote competition and reduce costs of health insurance and health…

Media

Read More: Senator Folmer Unveils “Healthy Pennsylvania”

Ethanol’s Water Shortage

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 17, 2007

Wall Street Journal piece with more on the problems with ethanol mandates and subsidies: Writing in Science magazine, Renton Righelato and Dominick Spracklen estimate that in order…

Media

Read More: Ethanol’s Water Shortage