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.”
Government Accountability
#254 on the Liberty Index lives up (down?) to his ranking
Philly Democratic Senator Vince Fumo (who scored the worst on our Liberty Index) has proposed a graduated income tax to further punish the producers in Pennsylvania. Nevermind that the “rich”…
Media
Read More: #254 on the Liberty Index lives up (down?) to his rankingGovernment Accountability
Rep. Metcalfe on the Liberty Index
From a news release from Rep. Daryl Metcalfe… Rep. Daryl Metcalfe: Metcalfe tops Liberty Index for second year in a row. HARRISBURG — Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) is again the…
Media
Read More: Rep. Metcalfe on the Liberty IndexGovernment Accountability
Liberty Index in Lancaster
Democratic Rep. Mike Sturla’s response to his F- grade in the Intelligencer Journal is classic: “[T]hese are people who never bothered to drive, or get prescription drugs for their…
Media
Read More: Liberty Index in LancasterTaxes & Economy
House fails to override veto of tax cut
Patriot-News story on yesterday’s action in the House where many Democrats who originally supported tax cuts renegged on their suppport. Topics on this page The Patriot-News…
Media
Read More: House fails to override veto of tax cutEducation
The PHEAA raises: Another pay-jacking
More on the lobbyist/legislative operative who is now the highest paid state employee … in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Topics on this page Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance…
Media
Read More: The PHEAA raises: Another pay-jackingTaxes & Economy
Minimum logic
A small businessman says, in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, how he’ll deal with Rendell’s minimum wage increase … let go employees. Of course, those pushing this Fascist economic policy…
Media
Read More: Minimum logicTaxes & Economy
The Politics of Ever-Expanding Government
A quality essay by Steven Malanga on how the recipients of increased government spending support increased government spending. Taxpayers are footing the bill for lobbying by by governments and…
Media
Read More: The Politics of Ever-Expanding GovernmentRegulation
How to milk the system
Pension ruling for judge could ‘open floodgates’ to other claims, says a dissenting judge on the Commonwealth Court. By this court’s reasoning, I should be able to collect money…
Media
Read More: How to milk the systemEducation
A government big enough to give you everything you want …
There is a theory (articulate in a piece by Mark Bauerlein) that left-wing academics are engrossed in large scale group think, that when large numbers of the radical left…
Media
Read More: A government big enough to give you everything you want …Taxes & Economy
Higher minimum wage will hurt state
The Morning Call reprinted my letter to the governor in today’s newspaper. Also, tune in to WHP 580 AM today from 3-4pm when I will be debating a representative…
Media
Read More: Higher minimum wage will hurt statePublic Union Democracy
Why Maryland is fighting windmills.
A George Will piece (Getting mugged in Maryland), explaining why the Maryland legislature has decided to attack the paper tiger of Wal-Mart. Will cites Wal-Mart’s ample benefits and pay,…
Media
Read More: Why Maryland is fighting windmills.Taxes & Economy
Letter to Gov. Rendell on the Minimum Wage
January 23, 2006 Governor Edward G. Rendell225 Main Capitol BuildingHarrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 Dear Governor Rendell, I understand that politicians sometimes change their policy positions. And I probably don’t…
Commentary
Read More: Letter to Gov. Rendell on the Minimum WageTaxes & Economy
Not so fast, Eddie
Jake Haulk of the Allegheny Institute further demonstrates the folly of government-directed “economic development.” Indeed, Pennsylvania has been a leader among states in using tax dollars to “create jobs,” yet…
Media
Read More: Not so fast, EddieTaxes & Economy
Minimum Wage; Maximum Ignorance
Gov. Rendell cozied up to his labor union buddies today with his push for an artificial increase in labor costs in PA of nearly 40%. (Remember, Rendell agreed with us…
Media
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The Ducking Swann?
The Commonwealth Foundation was a co-sponsor of next week’s debate among the 3 GOP gubernatorial candidates. However, Mr. Swann has declined to participate in the only schedule debate of the…
Media
Read More: The Ducking Swann?State Budget
How about the people paying the bills???
Well, the Senate released its schedule for the 2006-07 Budget hearings. After Gov. Rendell presents his $24-25 BILLION taxpayer tab in early February to the General Assembly, the Senate has…
Media
Read More: How about the people paying the bills???Regulation
Public Pensions Running Wild
A National Center for Policy Analysis summary of facts about state and local government pensions. The bottom line is that states continue to enhance benefits far beyond private sector…
Media
Read More: Public Pensions Running WildEducation
PSBA: “Limit School Spending for Cyber Schools”
The Pennsylvania School Board Association has finally come to agree that school spending should be limited to what it actually costs to educate a child: Patriot News – Districts…
Media
Read More: PSBA: “Limit School Spending for Cyber Schools”
Utah Man Wanted by Truth Police
An article appearing on ESPN.com – Why isn’t Jazz owner under fire? – argues that Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller should be penalized (fined, suspended or just chastised) for…
Media
Read More: Utah Man Wanted by Truth PoliceEducation
Public nonprofit, privately profitable
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, a taxpayer-supported, government-monopoly student loan organization, will pay its top executive, Dick Willey, nearly a half million dollars in 2006, reports the Harrisburg…
Media
Read More: Public nonprofit, privately profitablePublic Union Democracy
Union ousted
Montgomery County Court-related employees throw out AFSCME, reports The Times Herald. Topics on this page American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees…
Media
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