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.”
State Budget
Ending Pennsylvanias Business as Usual Budget
The General Assembly’s post-primary return to Harrisburg signals the start of budget season in Pennsylvania—and taxpayers all across the Commonwealth should be clutching their wallets a little tighter in nervous…
Commentary
Read More: Ending Pennsylvanias Business as Usual BudgetTaxes & Economy
Tax Dollars Spent on PR
The Patriot News reports on how your tax dollars are working hard to fund the public relations campaigns of legislative leaders – namely House Speaker Perzel spending $5,000/month on…
Media
Read More: Tax Dollars Spent on PRRegulation
Nice Pensions for Lawmakers
Coverage of lawmakers’ pensions in the Chambersburg Public Opinion and Lebanon Daily News. Topics on this page Lebanon Daily NewsPublic Opinion…
Media
Read More: Nice Pensions for LawmakersPublic Union Democracy
And you probably thought the Soviet Union collapsed!
The union water-boys at the Keystone Research Center had Paul Krugman in Harrisburg last night, as reported in the Patriot-News. Gotta love Krugman’s solutions for our economic woes.
Media
Read More: And you probably thought the Soviet Union collapsed!Taxes & Economy
Groups target legislative spending
From the Courier Times: “Asked about the WAMS — legislative grants for economic development — Rep. Scott Petri, R-178, said, “I don’t know any one of them I would…
Media
Read More: Groups target legislative spendingState Budget
When Fish is Really Pork
A press release from the PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) attempts to justify the Fish Fund as a core function of government. However, we maintain our assertion…
Media
Read More: When Fish is Really PorkPublic Union Democracy
Unions and Politics
A couple of very good reads on teacher unions and education in the Summer 2006 Education Next. In Strike Phobia, Frederick Hess and Marty West look at the…
Media
Read More: Unions and PoliticsRegulation
Groups identify $4.3 billion in ‘wasteful’ spending
Public Radio Capitol News on our Piglet Book 2006. Although reporter Damon Baughmer probably doesn’t appreciate the fact that we think his employer (we, the taxpayers) should be funding…
Media
Read More: Groups identify $4.3 billion in ‘wasteful’ spendingGovernment Accountability
Reform Needed in PA
Mike Folmer on the primary and the need for reform in Pennsylvania in today’s Wall Street Journal. Topics on this page Mike FolmerPennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Reform Needed in PAGovernment Accountability
It wasn’t the raise; it was the lack of Republican principles
Pat Toomy in the Philadelphia Inquirer on the message of May 16, 2006…the Primary Election that will go downin history for ousting 17 incumbents, more than every year combined…
Media
Read More: It wasn’t the raise; it was the lack of Republican principlesRegulation
Pension problem looming
The Altoona Mirror says “Pennsylvanians need to look past the headlines on legislators because there is a much bigger problem lurking.” We couldn’t agree more! Topics on this…
Media
Read More: Pension problem looming
Piglet Book Coverage
Coverage of the Piglet Book in the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice, the Scranton Times-Tribune, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Topics on this page Pittsburgh Post-Gazette…
Media
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GOP targets Rendell budget pork
Despite the misleading title (the Commonwealth Foundation and Citizens Against Government Waste are not the GOP, just the ask the GOP!), Alison Hawkes writes an excellent story for the…
Media
Read More: GOP targets Rendell budget porkState Budget
Piglet Book Coverage
Coverage of the Pennsylvania Piglet Book in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Download the full Piglet Book here. Topics on this page Pittsburgh Post-Gazette…
Media
Read More: Piglet Book CoverageRegulation
EDITORIAL | Public servants retire in luxury
Centre Daily Times on how our “servants” have become “masters” at the expense of the public. Topics on this page Centre Daily Times…
Media
Read More: EDITORIAL | Public servants retire in luxuryState Budget
Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006
The Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006 is the joint effort of the Commonwealth Foundation and Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) to make the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania aware of…
Report
Read More: Pennsylvania Piglet Book 2006Regulation
Pinching pennies? Not ousted lawmakers
“Voters probably weren’t thinking about it at the time, but when they ousted Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer, R-Blair, and Senate Majority Leader David “Chip” Brightbill, R-Lebanon, they opened…
Media
Read More: Pinching pennies? Not ousted lawmakersRegulation
State gaming official arrested
“A state Gaming Control Board investigator arrested outside a South Side bar early Saturday, allegedly after threatening and then trying to run from police, has become the fifth agency employee…
Media
Read More: State gaming official arrestedTaxes & Economy
Swann plan requires work …
So says our friend Jake Haulk of the Allegheny Institute in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Dr. Haulk concludes that “it’s still tax-shifting, relies on magic money, wrongly disses property tax…
Media
Read More: Swann plan requires work …Regulation
Pa. lawmakers find retiring pays
Excellent article from the Centre Daily Times on the coming pension crisis. “It’s a train wreck waiting to happen — it’s barreling down the tracks at us,” said Centre…
Media
Read More: Pa. lawmakers find retiring paysTaxes & Economy
Minimum Wages Politics vs. Economics
The push for a minimum wage increase is going on in North Carolina as well as here in PA. A piece in the Raleigh News Observer looks at the…
Media
Read More: Minimum Wages Politics vs. Economics