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.” 

Britney Joins the Head Shavers Club

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 20, 2007

While the media is questioning what could motivate Britney Spears to shave her head, the answer is quite clear–she is gunning for a job with the Commonwealth Foundation.

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Does the U.S. Spend More?

  • February 20, 2007

A new report from McKinsey claims that the United States spends $477billion a year – $1,645 per person – more on health care than otherOECD countries do, after…

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Companies’ Fair Share: Zero Percent

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 20, 2007

Andrew Chamberlain editorial on why progressive corporate tax rates are “unfair”– taxes on corporations are just taxes on people.

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Priceless politics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 20, 2007

Thomas Sowell wonders why local governments feel they need to own and operate golf courses under the mantra of “helping the poor”: “Are the taxpayers being asked to support…

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Spirits of privatization are likely to stay bottled up

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2007

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette considers the prospects of privatizing the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Topics on this page Pennsylvania Liquor Control BoardPittsburgh Post-Gazette…

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Uninsured And Overinflated

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 16, 2007

Investor’s Business Daily editorial breaks down the “46 million” without health insurance: most are without insurance short-term, immigrants, eligible for current government programs, or young and choosing not to…

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Adding Up the Reasons For Expensive Health Care

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 15, 2007

Washington Post article details why healthcare is so expensive in the US. Doctor’s pay, unnecessary testing, and hospital amenities play a major role (and the third-party payer model falls…

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The Stubborn Welfare State

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 14, 2007

Robert Samuelson looks at where tax dollars really go. The charts tell it all. Topics on this page Robert J. Samuelson…

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A Portrait of the Economy

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 14, 2007

Wall Street Journal editorial on why growth of Big Government always undermines economic growth. Topics on this page Big government…

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The Tax Foundation on Windfall Profits Tax

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 13, 2007

Tax Foundation Audio on Governor Rendell’s proposed oil profits tax (from KDKA, Pittsburgh). Topics on this page Ed RendellKDKAPittsburgh…

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Should Uncle Sam Take Oil Company Profits?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 13, 2007

US News and World Report answers: No: “Today’s earnings are tomorrow’s investments, both in exploiting hard-to-reach oil reserves and in alternative fuels.” Of course, Governor Rendell believes those investments…

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Utah enacts school vouchers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 13, 2007

Utah Governor Huntsman signed into law the first statewide school voucher program open to virtually all students. Scholarship value would vary based on family income. Topics on this…

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Electric customers face double hit

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2007

The Morning Call explains why electricity prices will be going up to pay for a program to tell consumers that electricity prices are going up.

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9.8% Spending Increase

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 12, 2007

Because of plans to create new state funds and shifting spending from the General Fund to other funds, the Governor’s budget proposal really implies a 9.8% increase in spending from…

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The hidden $866 million tax

  • February 11, 2007

The Morning Call reports that the state (suprise, suprise!) ALWAYS comes out the winner with sales tax rounding. The 6% state sales tax can actually be as high as…

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Pennsylvania’s Windfall Profits Tax?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 11, 2007

The Tax Foundation’s blog on Rendell’s proposed windfall profits tax. Topics on this page PennsylvaniaTax Foundation…

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