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.”
Regulation
Corporate Welfare No Boon for Philadelphia Job Market
Despite receiving large corporate "welfare checks" to spur job growth in manufacturing and technology, the Philadelphia region still lags behind other areas of the Commonwealth in employment. The region has…
Commentary
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“Fair-Share Health Care”: Big Labor’s Assault on Profitable Job Providers
Remember the old saying “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”? When it comes to the ongoing war between Wal-Mart and Big Labor, it has turned into “If you can’t…
Commentary
Read More: “Fair-Share Health Care”: Big Labor’s Assault on Profitable Job ProvidersState Budget
Breaking Pennsylvania’s Budget Tradition
Traditionally in Pennsylvania’s “budget season,” the governor has submitted his spending plan for the coming fiscal year, and the General Assembly has accepted it as the starting point for the…
Commentary
Read More: Breaking Pennsylvania’s Budget TraditionTaxes & Economy
Cut taxes to attract jobs
Commonwealth Foundation’s Nate Benefield in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer. Topics on this page The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC…
Media
Read More: Cut taxes to attract jobsGovernment Accountability
One Man Collection Agency
John Baer of the Philadelphia Daily News on Gov. Rendell’s campaign contributions. Topics on this page Ed RendellPhiladelphia Daily News…
Media
Read More: One Man Collection AgencyGovernment Accountability
Voter fraud in Pennsylvania? Gov. Rendell isn’t worried.
John Fund on Pennsylvania election fraud and oddities in today’s Wall Street Journal Topics on this page Ed RendellJohn FundPennsylvaniaThe…
Media
Read More: Voter fraud in Pennsylvania? Gov. Rendell isn’t worried.State Budget
Rendell’s faux budget hides real growth in spending : The Morning Call Online
Read Grant Gulibon’s commentary in today’s Allentown Morning Call.
Media
Read More: Rendell’s faux budget hides real growth in spending : The Morning Call OnlineTaxes & Economy
The Property Tax Relief Scholarship Act
It is “like throwing gasoline on a fire,” said G. Terry Madonna, a political science professor at Franklin & Marshall College in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Reivew. The idea is “definitely…
Media
Read More: The Property Tax Relief Scholarship ActRegulation
They could have thought of a better title
The Pittsbuhgh Post-Gazette titled their story, “Use casino revenue for school vouchers, group suggests.” I guess that’s better than “Dirty Gambling Money to Undermine the Separation of Church and…
Media
Read More: They could have thought of a better titleTaxes & Economy
New, Better Property Tax Relief Proposal – Media Coverage
Patriot News “Breaking News” coverage of our Property Tax Relief Scholarship proposal. Get our press release, or download our Policy Brief for more details and district-specific property…
Media
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The Property Tax Relief Scholarship Act
To date, the school property tax discussion in Pennsylvania has narrowly focused on the revenue side of the equation, without addressing the spending side of the ledger. This has led…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Property Tax Relief Scholarship ActHealth Care
Health care for everyone?
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney writes in today’s Wall Street Journal that he believes he’s found a way to provide health care for everyone, with “no new taxes, no employer…
Media
Read More: Health care for everyone?Education
Philly quadruples number of teachers fired for lack of performance
Before you think there is a major focus on teacher quality in the Philadelphia School District, the quadrupling of the number of teacher fired for performance was from 2 in…
Media
Read More: Philly quadruples number of teachers fired for lack of performanceTaxes & Economy
Governor Rendell: The Era of Big Government is Just Beginning
Two Gems from Governor Rendell in The Scranton Times-Tribune: “Rendell says voters have a clear choice between a candidate who talks of cutting taxes and limiting spending – Swann…
Media
Read More: Governor Rendell: The Era of Big Government is Just BeginningState Budget
Are they really “Fake” Republicans?
OpinionJournal – John Fund on the Trail: “‘The Republican Party is now principally moderate, if not liberal’ on spending, Mr. Specter told reporters after a majority of GOP senators…
Media
Read More: Are they really “Fake” Republicans?Public Union Democracy
Rendell caught trying to help union buddies
The Rendell Administration recently made a rules change that he changed again. Gov. Rendell’s Department of Labor and Industry had advised state and municipal governments that they would have to…
Media
Read More: Rendell caught trying to help union buddiesTaxes & Economy
Renouce the “Faith”
NOTE: This commentary was originally published on June 15, 2004. Politicians are fond of saying, "Government doesn't create jobs, the private sector does." Yet the machinations of state and federal…
Commentary
Read More: Renouce the “Faith”Taxes & Economy
“Populism in pursuit of power preservation”
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Colin McNickle has a few thoughts on the House’s passage of the minimum wage bill last week. Here’s an excerpt from today’s commentary, “Stop supporting fake…
Media
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Can a black Republican win in a blue state?
Interesting Wall Street Journal article on Maryland’s Michael Steele run for U.S. Senate. Topics on this page MarylandThe Wall Street JournalUnited States…
Media
Read More: Can a black Republican win in a blue state?Taxes & Economy
China’s Economic Development Lessons for Pennsylvania
NOTE: This commentary was originally published on April 19, 2004. Tax Day 2004 has come and gone, and as Pennsylvanians wrote their annual big checks to big government, they should…
Commentary
Read More: China’s Economic Development Lessons for PennsylvaniaState Budget
CAGW Pig Book: $29 BIllion in Pork in 2006
Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) released their annual Pig Book yesterday, which indentifies $29 billion of pork-spending (defined as requests by members of Congress for special projects) in the…
Media
Read More: CAGW Pig Book: $29 BIllion in Pork in 2006