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.”
Education
Black Flight
Excellent Wall Street Journal article on what is happening in Minneaopolis where African-American families in the city’s poorest neighborhoods are choosing to leave their assigned public schools in large…
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Read More: Black FlightRegulation
Pay no attention to the coming crisis.
In an Alfred E Neuman-esque “What, me worry?” Council 13 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees claims there is no future pension problem in Pennsylvania. “…
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Read More: Pay no attention to the coming crisis.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Hogging at the trough
…in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Topics on this page Pittsburgh Tribune-Review…
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Read More: LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Hogging at the troughState Budget
The Rendell Budget: Would Your Family Spend Money Like This?
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had a good tax year – that is, in government collection terms. General Fund revenues will exceed expectations this year by a projected $353 million. But…
Commentary
Read More: The Rendell Budget: Would Your Family Spend Money Like This?Regulation
EDITORIAL | Pension padding
“Getting elected to the state’s freewheeling Legislature isn’t nearly as sweet as leaving the public body after several terms.” Read more from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Topics on this…
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Read More: EDITORIAL | Pension paddingRegulation
Raw Deal for the People of Pennsylvania
More coverage of our pension study in the Beaver County Times/Allegheny Times. Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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Read More: Raw Deal for the People of PennsylvaniaRegulation
The Real War on Wal-Mart is to Expand Government
Brendan Miniter in today’s Wall Street Journal… “Let’s first understand that the drive to enact anti-Wal-Mart legislation has very little to do with the retail giant except in two…
Media
Read More: The Real War on Wal-Mart is to Expand GovernmentRegulation
Pension scandal could rival pay-jacking
The Mercury – News on our pension study.
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Read More: Pension scandal could rival pay-jacking
BIG conflict of interest
Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review uncovers a doozy in Beaver County. Topics on this page Beaver CountyBrad BumstedPittsburgh Tribune-Review…
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Read More: BIG conflict of interestRegulation
The Pay Raise and Pension Link
Herald Standard story by Alison Hawkes on how “unvouchered expenses” are going to boost pensions for those lawmakers who took the unconstitutional money.
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Read More: The Pay Raise and Pension LinkRegulation
Pension sticker shock about to hit
This Morning Call article by Christina Gostomski begins by looking at how PA’s archaic pension system is going to impact our property taxes.
Media
Read More: Pension sticker shock about to hitRegulation
Think tank sees trouble for Pa. pension funds
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette… Topics on this page PennsylvaniaPittsburgh Post-Gazette…
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Read More: Think tank sees trouble for Pa. pension fundsRegulation
Exploding pensions hurting taxpayers, new report claims
Lancaster New Era on our latest report……
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Read More: Exploding pensions hurting taxpayers, new report claimsRegulation
Beneath the Surface: Pennsylvania’s Looming Pension and Healthcare Benefits Crisis
Pennsylvania government employee-benefit plans operate in a vacuum. In a world where private-sector benefit cutbacks and cost reductions occur on a daily basis, state government in Harrisburg has not responded…
Report
Read More: Beneath the Surface: Pennsylvania’s Looming Pension and Healthcare Benefits CrisisTaxes & Economy
Minimum Wage Reality…
From: John F. BrinsonSent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 2:19 PMTo: PA General AssemblySubject: Minimum wage———————————————————– Dear Friends in the Pennsylvania Legislature: An increase in the minimum…
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Read More: Minimum Wage Reality…Regulation
Retire the current retirement system
This Daily Item editorial gets it almost exactly right. While the conclusions are accurate that it will be the taxpayers who take it on the chin, the blame is…
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Read More: Retire the current retirement systemRegulation
Officials differ on slots’ economic impact
Gambling in PA: Economic Development or Political Handout? Although that is not the gist of this Herald Standard story, it is the point I try to make at the…
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Read More: Officials differ on slots’ economic impactPublic Union Democracy
Union facts: The ugly truth
“The Leftist agenda, the racketeering, the fines, the convictions, the magnificent, unearned salaries for union bosses. It’s all here. “ Read the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial. Topics on this…
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Read More: Union facts: The ugly truthState Budget
The Myth of Spending Cuts for the Poor, Tax Cuts for the Rich
Fascinating analysis by the Heritage Foundation on how the Bush administration – attacked by critics for “cutting spending for the poor while cutting taxes for the rich” – has…
Media
Read More: The Myth of Spending Cuts for the Poor, Tax Cuts for the RichEducation
How schools lock themselves into raising taxes
Article on USATODAY.com explores how health care and other benefits promised to public teachers’ unions will cost school districts a fortune over the coming years. Anyone who thinks…
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Read More: How schools lock themselves into raising taxesRegulation
The War goes on with no end in sight
The war on Wal-Mart, that is. Now Wal-Mart is under orders from Massachusetts to sell “morning-after” pills. It seems that in not stocking the notorious morning-after pill, Wal-Mart was…
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Read More: The War goes on with no end in sight