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.”
Real Consideration of Turnpike Lease?
Pete DeCoursey at Capitolwire is reporting that not only is Governor Rendell continuing to press for a Turnpike Lease, but that he has several supporters, including Sen. Jake…
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Toll of teacher strikes
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on the cost of teacher strikes in PA, citing this study by the Allegheny Institute. Also read Simon Campbell’s commentary on legislation to end teacher…
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Why Campaign Expenditures are Increasing: The Government is Getting Bigger
Research by John Lott reveals a somewhat obvious explanation to campaign contribution growth, touched on briefly in my testimony. Special interests spend millions to influence government because government…
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Read More: Why Campaign Expenditures are Increasing: The Government is Getting Bigger
Rendell’s world: Spending and debt
Brad Bumsted in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on spending and debt under Rendell – i.e. the “cardboard check syndrome”. Topics on this page Brad BumstedPittsburgh…
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Pennsylvania Teachers: Number One in Strikes
Allegheny Institute Report on teacher strikes in Pennsylvania and nationally. The include facts about the number of strikes in each state (60% of all strikes occur in PA), and…
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Cyber Charter Funding Debate
Good article by William Mulgrew in The Evening Bulletin on the debate over public cyber school funding, with emphasis on the Haverford District: Last year, Haverford School District…
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With just the click of a mouse … you’re in school
More coverage of the benefits for cyber schools for students and their growing popularity among parents from the Meadville Tribune. Read our FAQ on Cyber Schools here.
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Expanding SCHIP Will Challenge State Finances
Heritage Foundation looks at the effect of the proposed Congressional SCHIP expansion, and offers A State-by-State Analysis of the effect on finances. The SCHIP expansion under consideration would increase…
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Another reason why there’s no money for bridges
Another story about taxes ostensibly to be used for transportation are going to Pork: That’s because — thanks to state funding — PPL is installing 88 new sidewalk…
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Read More: Another reason why there’s no money for bridges
Poll: Campaign Finance
Our first ever Policy Blog poll wants to know what our readers think of proposed campaign finance reform in Pennsylvania. After answering, check out our Policy Points on…
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Parochial choice
Letter to the Patriot News explains how Harrisburg Schools can save money — through school choice. We have discussed this idea a number of times, including a policy brief,…
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Property Tax Relief?
It’s been three years since the passage of the largest expansion of gambling in Pennsylvania. The people of Pennsylvania were told by Gov. Rendell and the majority of House and…
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Campaign Finance Limits & Public Funding
Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering legislation that would limit campaign contributions and would allow for taxpayer financing of gubernatorial campaigns. This legislation is based on the “Clean Election” model passed by…
Fact Sheet
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Agriculture Number 1?
I’ve seen politicians, from both parties and from all regions of the state, throw around the claim that Agriculture is PA’s number one industry, most recently in the Governor’s…
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Benefield Testimony on PCN
My testimony on campaign finance limits will be carried live on PCN today. I am scheduled to take the hot seat at 1:30. The hearing will re-air beginning at…
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Read More: Benefield Testimony on PCNGovernment Accountability
Campaign Finance “Reform” is a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Good afternoon. My name is Nathan Benefield; I am the Director of Policy Research for the Commonwealth Foundation, a public policy research and educational institution based in Harrisburg. I…
Testimony
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Back to cyber school
Rob Gebhart in the Somerset Daily American, looks at cyber schools from the perspective of the student, rather than repeating the criticism of the school board and teachers’ union…
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Rep. Peterson on tolling I-80
Congressman John Peterson op-ed on tolling I-80 in today’s Morning Call. Topics on this page The Morning Call…
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Earmarks continue to dominate Congress
John Fund in today’s Wall Street Journal on the joke of earmark reform in Congress, including embarrasing defense of earmarks by Congressman Murtha. And here is the Club for…
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Think again before tolling I-80
CEO of Weis Markets on the poorly vetted Act 44 plan to toll I-80 and raise Turnpike tolls in the Patriot News. Topics on this page…
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Running for Governor
Grassroots PA has been busy tracking who may run for PA Governor in 2010. Their recent additions, including two today, include Tom Knox; Catherine Baker Knoll; Don…
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