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.” 

Taxing Teachers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 11, 2007

When Governor Rendell intoduced his proposed “Oil Company Gross Profits Tax”, he bashed Exxon-Mobil and their profits. The Governor apparently forgot that Exxon’s profits are owned by people, including being…

Media

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State can’t fix health insurance problems it created

  • February 10, 2007

A small businessman says “Thanks, but No Thanks!” to Gov. Rendell’s healthcare proposal that is suppose to HELP small businesses. Read John Brinson’s commentary in the Morning Call.

Media

Read More: State can’t fix health insurance problems it created

Newly Retired Lawmakers Cash In on Pensions

  • February 8, 2007

The Associated Press reports on the pension payouts of newly retired lawmakers. ABC27 reports on the lucrative “public servant” benefits our lawmakers have provided themselves.

Media

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Do Markets Work in Healthcare?

  • February 8, 2007

From Dr. John Goodman of the National Center for Policy Analysis… Perhaps you have heard that health markets work reasonably well whenpatients pay with their own money. LAZIK surgery…

Media

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Record Taxes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 6, 2007

Much has been made about Exxon’s “record profits”, but no media focused on their “record taxes“–Exxon paid three times in taxes what they earned in profits. Why is this…

Media

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Fiscal Revelation

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 6, 2007

Wall Street Journal crunches numbers in the federal budget and national debt.

Media

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Regulation

What Happened to Yesterday’s Hometown Heroes?

  • February 6, 2007

Each morning my local county newspaper shows up late. Speaking with the delivery man and calling the office hasn’t changed things. So, rather than canceling the 20,089 daily circulation paper…

Commentary

Read More: What Happened to Yesterday’s Hometown Heroes?

A heaping helping of handouts

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 5, 2007

Post-Gazette piece on a whole host of corporate welfare grants. Topics on this page Pittsburgh Post-Gazette…

Media

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Significant Tax Increase for Pennsylvania

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 5, 2007

The Tax Foundation assesses Governor Rendell’s plans to raise a host of taxes in Pennylvania. Topics on this page Ed Rendell…

Media

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State judge pay system worse than legislative bonuses.

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 5, 2007

From Capitolwire.com (subscription): Ditzen also wrote: “For all the controversy surrounding Act 44, I have not heard anyone argue that the salary linkage for state judges to the federal…

Media

Read More: State judge pay system worse than legislative bonuses.

Saying No To Teacher Strikes

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 4, 2007

The Evening Bulletin covers efforts to stop teacher strikes in PA, focusing on the efforts of Simon Campbell at Stop Teacher Strikes, Inc. Topics on this page…

Media

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The Case Against Smoking Bans

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2007

Thomas A Lambert in Regulation Magazine on the Case Against Smoking Bans in “public places.”…

Media

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Rendell pushes health plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2007

Lancaster Intelligencer Journal article on RendellCare. After quoting my commentary on Rendell’s misdiagnosis of the problem, the article then quotes Rendell saying: “‘It’s important for the Legislature to…

Media

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Rendell’s Energy Plan

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2007

From Capitolwire.com: By Christopher LilienthalStaff ReporterCapitolwire HARRISBURG (Feb. 1) – Gov. Ed Rendell outlined an energy independence strategy Thursday that calls for the creation of an $850…

Media

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More on Legislative Bonuses

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 2, 2007

The Patriot News adds up the total legislative bonuses to $3.6 million over the last 2 years ($1.8 million from the Democratic caucus in 2006). Meanwhile, Bob Jubelirer defends…

Media

Read More: More on Legislative Bonuses

Time for another Rendell tax proposal

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 1, 2007

From the bad idea factory in Harrisburg comes another proposal for a tax increase to fund another misguided government program. This time, Governor Rendell proposes increasing electricity taxes by $850…

Media

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Justice on Trial

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 1, 2007

The Commonwealth Foundation is co-sponsoring with Democracy Rising Pennsylvania and several other reform groups a survey of judicial candidates.

Media

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