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 Real Candidates For Office
Read Grant Gulibon’s latest commentary in The Evening Bulletin. Topics on this page Philadelphia Bulletin…
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Taxpayers spending over $1 million on lawyers to defend pay raise
As first broken by the Philadelphia Inquirer: “”Do I like hiring lawyers to defend these kinds of suits? No, I hate to do this,” said House Majority Leader Sam…
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Read More: Taxpayers spending over $1 million on lawyers to defend pay raisePublic Union Democracy
Your Tax Dollars at Work
Fine tribute to public sector unions, paid for with your tax dollars. I guess we were wrong to identify the Historical and Museum Commission as an example of pork…
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Read More: Your Tax Dollars at WorkGovernment Accountability
The Real Candidates for Office: Liberty vs. Safety
On a stone pillar near the top of the steps ascending toward the Pennsylvania State Capitol is inscribed the following quote from Benjamin Franklin: “Those who would give up essential…
Commentary
Read More: The Real Candidates for Office: Liberty vs. SafetyRegulation
Ousted legislators find silver lining
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “Some lawmakers who lost their jobs in the May primary will collect pensions almost as big as their current salaries. “Powerhouse Republican Sen. Robert Jubelirer,…
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Read More: Ousted legislators find silver liningTaxes & Economy
Does faux reform kill real reform?
Brad Bumstead in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on the likelihood that significant property tax relief is dead following the passage of the facade of reform passed Wednesday. Read our News…
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Read More: Does faux reform kill real reform?Government Accountability
Is there a Speaker in the House?
According to Pete DeCoursey of Capitolwire.com, House Speaker John Perzel said this last night on public television’s “Smart Talk”: “When I see that a tattoo artist in the city of…
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Read More: Is there a Speaker in the House?Health Care
Reduce Health Insurance Cost Through Competition
NCPA Analysis of how allowing insurers to offer healthcare coverage across state boundaries would reduce the cost of insurance. Examining only a handful of states, they find a discrepancy…
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Read More: Reduce Health Insurance Cost Through CompetitionTaxes & Economy
Decoding the Swann Property Tax Plan
The property tax relief plan introduced by gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann last month offers a radically different approach to the problem. Swann’s proposal contains some good provisions, some flawed provisions,…
Commentary
Read More: Decoding the Swann Property Tax PlanTaxes & Economy
FEMA funds spent on divorce, sex change
AP story on fraud in FEMA aid – as much as $1.4 Billion (16% of all FEMA aid for Katrina and Rita victims) may have been used improperly. My…
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Read More: FEMA funds spent on divorce, sex changeGovernment Accountability
A Mandate for Reform
Much has been written about the “message” of the May 16 primary election in the weeks since Pennsylvania’s voters thunderously registered their displeasure with “business as usual” in Harrisburg. By…
Commentary
Read More: A Mandate for ReformEducation
Arrogant PHEAA: More stonewalling
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial review on how the public agency PHEAA refuses to disclose how they spend their money. Hence we propose privatizing PHEAA in our Pennsylvania Piglet…
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Read More: Arrogant PHEAA: More stonewallingEducation
Cut the Fat
While Gov. Ed Rendell claims that his administration is “squeezing every nickel out of government,” an analysis of state spending released by the Commonwealth Foundation and Citizens Against Government Waste…
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Agency: Unvouchered expenses ‘income’
The REPUBLICAN & Herald notes that two lawmakers paid taxes on their “unvouchered expenses.” But I thought UEs are not “income” so as not to be a direct violation…
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Read More: Agency: Unvouchered expenses ‘income’Public Union Democracy
Union officials must come to grips with reality of today’s economics
George McGovern, former U.S. Senator from SD and 1972 Democratic presidential candidate, shows that he’s s slow learner, but a learner nonetheless. This commentary in today’s Patriot-News says what…
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Read More: Union officials must come to grips with reality of today’s economicsRegulation
New York’s Pension Peril
E. J. McMahon, the director of the Manhattan Institute’s Empire Center for New York State Policy, writes in the New York Post about NY’s pension problem. Topics on…
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Read More: New York’s Pension PerilState Budget
Don’t spend state surplus; instead trim the pork : The Morning Call Online
Commonwealth Foundation Fellow Grant Gulibon in today’s Morning Call. Topics on this page The Morning Call…
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Read More: Don’t spend state surplus; instead trim the pork : The Morning Call OnlineState Budget
Cut (half) the Waste!
Williamsport Sun-Gazette editorial on the Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006. Topics on this page Williamsport Sun-Gazette…
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Read More: Cut (half) the Waste!Public Union Democracy
TV ad targeting unions raises profile of campaign against labor leaders
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story on the Center for Union Facts’ commercial. Check out the commercial here. Topics on this page Center for Union FactsPittsburgh…
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Read More: TV ad targeting unions raises profile of campaign against labor leadersTaxes & Economy
The More You Know … The More You Wish You Didn’t
How does a $56,000 salary sound? Not bad? What if that salary was for working on a political campaign? Still better? Now imagine that salary was for your 2nd job,…
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Read More: The More You Know … The More You Wish You Didn’tRegulation
Lawmaker Pensions too generous
Coverage of lawmaker pensions (and our Pension Study) in The York Daily Record. Topics on this page Pension…
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