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’ve cut federal taxes, but now it’s time to cut spending
Ed Feulner commentary on federal spending. Dr. Feulner will be speaking at our 2006 Speaker Franklin Awards Gala. Topics on this page Edwin Feulner…
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Many Kids Still Left Behind
A report released today by the Fordham Foundation takes a look at how well states are doing in terms of educating low-income and minority students. Pennsylvania gets pretty poor marks…
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More coverage of government reform
More media coverage of yesterday’s release of the Reform Report Card: Chambersburg Public OpinionCarlisle SentinelBucks County Courier Times, featuring the gem: “Rendell spokeswoman Kate…
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Failure to Reform State Government
The Commonwealth Foundation joined with other good government reform groups to issue a Report Card on the Roadmap to Reform. Coverage of the Press Conference can be found…
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School Uniform
Clint Bolick editorial in today’s Wall Street Journal on lawsuits that would eliminate charter schools. Topics on this page The Wall Street Journal…
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Management 101 for Our Public Schools
Terry Moe in today’s Wall Street Journal on incentive pay for teachers. Topics on this page The Wall Street Journal…
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Scams in mass transit
Q & A with Wendell Cox in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Topics on this page Pittsburgh Tribune-Review…
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How NOT to reduce the cost of college
Senator Joe Conti unveiled a proposal to expand the state sales tax and dedicate the revenue to Penn State University. Why? Penn State’s tuition is too high. This proposal…
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Majority believes government doing too much
A poll showing what everyone already knew, including CNN – except lawmakers at the federal and state level, who (in the words of John McCain) “have increased government in…
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Ranking of least, most dangerous cities
First the World Series, now The Most Dangerous City: St. Louis beats Detroit for the title. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, and Allentown all rank near the bottom of the list. Listed…
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The Education Revolution America Needs
From the Washington Post’s Think Tank Town. Topics on this page The Washington Post…
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The Sanford Model
Wall Street Journal uncovers that there is at least one fiscal conservative remaining in the Republican Party.
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Overspending on Roads
Rep. Curt Schroder has uncovered wasteful, pork-barrel spending on roads. The Rendell Administration’ recent reclassified certain highway maintenance projects as “construction projects.” As construction projects, they are subject to…
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Importing Poverty: Immigration and Poverty in the United States
Heritage Foundation Report: Importing Poverty: Immigration and Poverty in the United States: A Book of Charts…
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Right To Work States Benefit from Faster Growth
Data sheet from the National Institute for Labor Relations Research show how Right to Work states have faster economic growth and greater purchasing power than Forced-Unionism States (including…
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Late-night legislating reawakens reformers
Patriot News article on the late night shenanigans of our General Assembly. Also read our News Release on the manner in which “Cover All Kids” was passed. Eric…
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What Is Consumer-Directed Health Care?
In the wake of expanding government-run health care in PA, here is a primer on Consumer-Driven Health Care Reform by John Goodman (of NCPA, not The Big Lebowski)…
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Ed Rendell brings hope to seniors
John Baer of the Philadelphia Daily News quotes Gov. Rendell on why slot machines are so important to Pennsylvania. “These are people who lead very gray lives,” he said.
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What to do about mediocre political leaders
TCS Daily – The Leadership Myth: “We have to expect mediocrity from political leaders. …The libertarian view is that private institutions, both for-profit and non-profit, are better at…
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Ethanol: Bad for the Environment?
NCPA Summary of research showing that shifting ethanol and E-85 lead to greater gasoline usage and harm the environment. Yet government mandates and taxpayer subsidy of ethanol remain the…
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Republicans deserve to lose, but what happens if Democrats win?
Pete Du Pont in today’s Wall Street Journal on the policies we can expect should Democrats take control of one or both houses of Congress. Topics on this…
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