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
PLCB Strikes Again!
As lawmakers continue to debate balancing the state budget, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) gave Pennsylvanians yet another reason to privatize the antiquated liquor system. The agency unleashed…
Media
Read More: PLCB Strikes Again!State Budget
“Recurring Revenues” Lead to Recurring Pain
The House’s preferred approach to close the state’s $2.2 billion deficit recently came under fire for its reliance on one-time revenue sources rather than recurring revenues, i.e., tax increases. But this…
Media
Read More: “Recurring Revenues” Lead to Recurring PainRegulation
The Solution to Pa.’s Credit Downgrade
Pennsylvania’s irresponsible spending increases have taken their toll – and credit rating agencies have taken notice. Following a credit downgrade from Standard & Poor’s Wednesday morning, Pennsylvania’s…
Media
Read More: The Solution to Pa.’s Credit DowngradeRegulation
We’ll Take Taxpayers’ $17 Million Subsidy & Move to China, Suckers
The Tribune Review reports that another Pennsylvania company is moving to China. A company that built saltwater-based battery systems at the former Sony Corp. plant near New Stanton will move to…
Media
Read More: We’ll Take Taxpayers’ $17 Million Subsidy & Move to China, Suckers
House Budget Solution Spares Taxpayers
Tired of hearing about the state budget impasse? There could finally be light at the end of the tunnel and, for taxpayers, it’s not an oncoming train. On Wednesday, the…
Media
Read More: House Budget Solution Spares TaxpayersState Budget
More Budget Scare Tactics
Gov. Wolf announced on Friday that he will delay $1.7 billion in payments to Medicaid providers (for a week) and to the public school employees' pension fund. The governor cited the General…
Media
Read More: More Budget Scare TacticsState Budget
House Lawmakers Vote to Protect Taxpayers
Last night, 103 House lawmakers voted for a no-tax, no-borrowing plan that will balance the state budget once fully implemented. Please take a moment to thank those lawmakers.
Media
Read More: House Lawmakers Vote to Protect TaxpayersState Budget
Lawmakers’ Choice: Take from Taxpayers or Rein in Reserves
The path to ending the state budget impasse is becoming increasingly clear. Two plans with competing visions are at the forefront of debate in Harrisburg. The first option is a…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers’ Choice: Take from Taxpayers or Rein in ReservesState Budget
Ten Facts About the Shadow Budget
Four tax hikes in eight years have failed to solve Pennsylvania’s budget challenges or grow the economy. In contrast, utilizing 13% of reserve funds in the shadow budget…
Memo
Read More: Ten Facts About the Shadow BudgetState Budget
Inquirer Hurls Insults While Lawmakers Embrace Budget Solutions
Yesterday, The Philadelphia Inquirer published an editorial (paywall) attacking House Republicans for defending Pennsylvanians against tax increases and working to avoid driving the state deeper into debt. The editorial…
Media
Read More: Inquirer Hurls Insults While Lawmakers Embrace Budget SolutionsState Budget
Debunking the Claims of Gov. Wolf and His Special Interest Allies
A few misconceptions surrounding the House Republicans’ plan to balance the budget need to be corrected. First, the plan would redirect just 14 percent of the $9.3 billion…
Media
Read More: Debunking the Claims of Gov. Wolf and His Special Interest AlliesState Budget
The Numbers behind the Shadow Budget
Yesterday, a group of House Republicans unveiled a proposal to balance the state budget without borrowing or major tax increases. The crux of the plan relies on the use of $1.3…
Media
Read More: The Numbers behind the Shadow BudgetState Budget
House Lawmakers Unveil New Revenue Proposal
Today, a contingent of House Republicans—with the support of House leadership—released a plan to balance the state budget without borrowing or imposing broad-based tax increases. This is a positive development…
Media
Read More: House Lawmakers Unveil New Revenue ProposalState Budget
House Plan Taps Shadow Budget Stash to Pay State’s Bills
In a potential breakthrough in the state’s two-month budget stalemate, House Republicans today unveiled a plan to use state government fund surpluses to help balance the budget. The funds in…
Press Release
Read More: House Plan Taps Shadow Budget Stash to Pay State’s Bills
Here’s How to Pay Last Year’s Bills without Tax Hikes
On Tuesday, House Republicans will unveil their plan to balance the budget without hiking taxes on families and job creators and without costly borrowing. How will they do it? Transferring…
Media
Read More: Here’s How to Pay Last Year’s Bills without Tax HikesPublic Union Democracy
Major Win for Taxpayers in Allentown Ghost Teaching Fight
The free ride is over for one local teachers' union. This week, The Morning Call reported on a major change to ghost teaching in the Allentown School District. The…
Media
Read More: Major Win for Taxpayers in Allentown Ghost Teaching FightRegulation
Higher Prices Coming to a State Store Near You
Years of boondoogles and blunders at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) make for a compelling list of reasons for complete privatization. Now there's another item to add to the…
Media
Read More: Higher Prices Coming to a State Store Near YouState Budget
Pennsylvania’s Fiscal Irresponsibility Bears Repeating
A critic, responding to my op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer, opines that I am repeating the “mantra” that lawmakers should control the growth of spending and avoid job-killing tax…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Fiscal Irresponsibility Bears RepeatingEducation
Diverse Students Need Diverse Choices
Were a doctor to give every patient an aspirin regardless of their diagnosis, most would consider the doctor unqualified. Sure, the patients with a fever or a headache might be satisfied, but…
Media
Read More: Diverse Students Need Diverse ChoicesState Budget
Five Facts About the Shadow Budget
Lawmakers should utilize surplus shadow budget funds before raising taxes on working families.
Memo
Read More: Five Facts About the Shadow BudgetState Budget
Treasurer Playing Chicken with State Budget
In a news interview yesterday, State Treasurer Joe Torsella threatened that he won’t allow the state to borrow any more money to pay bills, unless the budget is balanced.
Media
Read More: Treasurer Playing Chicken with State Budget