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.”
The Ugly Truth About Canadian Health Care
Good read about Canadian health care(and other single-payer systems) by David Gratzer in the latest edition of City Journal. Topics on this page CanadaCity…
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Online schools’ surpluses criticized
Today’s Patriot News features another article repeating the misinformed and overblown criticism of cyber schools – worrying about the 0.8% of school district spending that goes to educate students…
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With I-80 tolling roadblocked, take a look at turnpike leasing
Patriot News Editorial in favor of taking another look (in the case of some lawmakers, actually looking at) a Turnpike lease. Topics on this page Toll…
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Road funding a pickpocket plan
Brouillette in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer. Topics on this page The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC…
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Taking Pennsylvania for a Ride
Nearly three years ago, the Commonwealth Foundation joined a loose coalition of groups that spanned the political and ideological spectrum. Common Cause, Democracy Rising PA, RockTheCapital.org, Young Conservatives of…
Commentary
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Reaction mixed for road leasing
Gov. Rendell has put the idea of leasing the Turnpike back on the table, just in case the proposal from the Turnpike Commission’s patrons, lobbyists, and bond attorneys falls through.
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Fumo’s still a force despite legal woes
Sen. Vince Fumo tells the Patriot-News that “I’m not afraid of [a trial] … I think when everyone hears our case, they’ll be very impressed.” “Impressed”? That’s an interesting…
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I-80 toll plan poses heaps of questions
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist Eric Heyl answers a few of the questions surrounding the Turnpike Commission’s plans to toll I-80. Topics on this page Interstate 80…
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Taking PA for a Ride
The recently passed transportation funding bill was of, by, and for the Turnpike Commission, says Matt Brouillette in today’s Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Topics on this page…
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State Based Health Care Reform: Mass. v. Mizzou
There are two very divergent paths states can take in health care reform. Massachusettes took the route of mandates to buy health insurance, higher taxes and subisidies, and more…
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The Indiana Toll Road: One Year Later
Read the Reason Foundation Commentary on the lease of the Indiana Toll Road. Earning $500,000 of interest per day? Sounds good, eh? Then read Geoff Segal’s commentary on…
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Rendell revives turnpike lease plan
Charles Thompson reports that Gov. Rendell is now looking again to the Turnpike Lease, as a “Plan B”. This in spite of his news release decrying the US…
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Edifice Complex: Where Has All the Money Gone?
From the 1986-87 to 2005-06 school years, taxpayer spending on Pennsylvania’s government-run K-12 schools increased from $6.6 billion to almost $22 billion—a 72% increase after adjusting for inflation. Between…
Report
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The Truth About Cyber Schools
An increasing number of parents are choosing Pennsylvania’s public cyber charter schools for their children every year—enrollment grew from 1,848 to almost 16,000 students between 2001 and 2006. Cyber…
Commentary
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Wage hikes affect prices, teen jobs
Dan Miller of the Patriot News on the effect of the minimum wage increase on jobs, hours, and worker benefits. The employers say they haven’t cut jobs.
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Clinton’s Hostile Preschool Takeover
Darcy Olsen of The Goldwater Institute on Hillary Clinton’s Pre-K plan. This is in response to a question for Brett Lieberman, but others are free to read up…
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Lottery Not Blaming Slots for Flat Sales
Marc Levy of the AP on stagnant lottery sales and the effect of slots. While the Lottery officials deny that slots had any effect on lottery sales. But the…
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US House voice vote against tolling I-80 in Pennsylvania – first shot in a war?
Toll Roads News with an in depth look at the move, and potential future actions, by several PA Congressmen to stop tolling of I-80. The bottom line is that…
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Cyber schools and public schools
A version of our commentary on public cyber schools ran in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer. On the same theme is a letter to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review on an…
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Toll plan hits bump in the road
More on the US House’s action to stop tolling of I-80 from the Patriot News. The federal law would mean that federal funds currently going to the state for…
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U.S. House votes against tolls on I-80
The US House approved an amendment to the transportation appropriation bill that would block tolling of I-80. The House has since passed the bill since Brett Lieberman broke the…
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