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
Taxes Threaten Chris’s Livelihood
Chris Hughes has owned Fat Cat Vapor Shop for almost three years. The shop—tucked away in a small Lycoming County borough—specializes in electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), which many people seek as…
Media
Read More: Taxes Threaten Chris’s LivelihoodRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Prime Subsidies to Amazon
Corporate welfare projects and celebratory press releases go together like peanut butter and jelly. For the most recent example in Pennsylvania, see the latest from the governor’s communications office:…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Prime Subsidies to AmazonEducation
Saving for a Rainy Day — But Whose Money?
Let’s talk for a moment about rainy days—specifically, the need to save funds to spend on one. Several school board administrators and lobbyists have taken issue with CF’s searchable,…
Media
Read More: Saving for a Rainy Day — But Whose Money?Regulation
The Pension Crisis Will Trigger Another Tax Hike
The 2016-17 budget is in the books with a $650 million tax increase. That's a significant increase…
Media
Read More: The Pension Crisis Will Trigger Another Tax HikePublic Union Democracy
DNC in Philly: Top 5 Ways Big-Government Policies Are Killing the Host City
DNC in Philly: Top 5 Ways Big-Government Policies Are Killing the Host City Philadelphians Suffering, Fleeing Due to Policies that Hurt Economic Growth July 21, 2016, Philadelphia, Pa.—As all…
Press Release
Read More: DNC in Philly: Top 5 Ways Big-Government Policies Are Killing the Host CityState Budget
A Budget of Convenience
The dust has settled on the 2016-17 budget debate—at least for the moment. Some people hail the agreement as an example of what Harrisburg can accomplish when two parties work together.
Media
Read More: A Budget of ConvenienceCriminal Justice Reform
Keystone Criminal Justice
As lifelong conservatives, we’re proud to call ourselves tough on crime and to support lengthy prison terms for dangerous felons. But after a long, taxpayer-funded era of mass incarceration, it’s…
Commentary
Read More: Keystone Criminal JusticeState Budget
An Analysis of the 2016-17 Budget
On June 30, the legislature passed a $31.6 billion General Fund Budget. Gov. Wolf allowed this budget to become law without his signature on July 12. On July 13, the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: An Analysis of the 2016-17 BudgetState Budget
What’s in the Final 2016-17 Budget?
On June 30, the legislature passed a $31.6 billion General Fund Budget. Gov. Wolf allowed this budget to become law without his signature on July 12. On July 13,…
Media
Read More: What’s in the Final 2016-17 Budget?Government Accountability
Unlearned State Budget Lessons
Charles Mitchell, newly appointed President and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, appeared last week on PMA Perspective to discuss this year’s state budget process and the “unlearned lessons” of last…
Media
Read More: Unlearned State Budget LessonsState Budget
Budget: Still Irresponsible, Still Unbalanced
Budget: Still Irresponsible, Still Unbalanced Despite Fanfare, Budget Remains $300 Million in the Red July 14, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Yesterday, Gov. Wolf and lawmakers approved a tax and revenue package…
Press Release
Read More: Budget: Still Irresponsible, Still UnbalancedState Budget
How the $650 Million Tax Increase Impacts You
The state budget is, for all intents and purposes, complete. While it remains unbalanced, we now know exactly which taxes are going up. The $650 million tax hike passed by the…
Media
Read More: How the $650 Million Tax Increase Impacts YouState Budget
Legislature Sends $600 Million Tax Increase to Gov. Wolf
Legislature Sends $600 Million Tax Increase to Gov. Wolf Pennsylvanians to Pay More for Cigarettes, eBooks, Apps, Streaming Video July 13, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Hoping to balance the unconstitutional, unbalanced…
Press Release
Read More: Legislature Sends $600 Million Tax Increase to Gov. WolfState Budget
State Spending Addiction Leads to Tax Hike
Lawmakers are on the cusp of pushing through a $650 million tax increase on working Pennsylvanians. Earlier this afternoon—without much warning or debate—a conference committee passed House Bill…
Media
Read More: State Spending Addiction Leads to Tax HikeState Budget
Pa. Enters Day #1 of Illegal, Unbalanced State Budget
Pa. Enters Day #1 of Illegal, Unbalanced State Budget Gov. Wolf Abdicates Constitutional Responsibility to Correct Legislature’s Error July 12, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Today is uncharted territory for Pennsylvania.
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Enters Day #1 of Illegal, Unbalanced State BudgetEducation
PSERS Revokes Ghost Teachers? Illegal Pension Credit
In a victory for taxpayers, the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) has revoked pension credit illegally given to Allentown “ghost teachers” who were hired to teach but instead…
Media
Read More: PSERS Revokes Ghost Teachers? Illegal Pension CreditState Budget
Will Wolf-Enacted Budget Violate Law?
Will Wolf-Enacted Budget Violate Law? Law Requires Gov. to Veto Spending Above Official Revenue Estimates July 11, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Governor Tom Wolf yesterday announced he would allow the $31.6 billion…
Press Release
Read More: Will Wolf-Enacted Budget Violate Law?
Gov. Wolf’s Budget Reversal
In his many press conferences about Pennsylvania's fiscal future, Gov. Wolf was adamant about one thing: the state budget must be truly balanced. He lambasted the General Assembly for its…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf’s Budget ReversalState Budget
Lower State Spending Could Improve Bond Rating
Last week Moody’s warned an out-of-balance state budget could result in another credit downgrading. By not acting to balance the budget, Governor Wolf is aiding in the devaluation of the…
Media
Read More: Lower State Spending Could Improve Bond Rating
Wolf Legally Required to Reduce Spending
Gov. Wolf has a legal responsibility to reduce spending and fix a legislative mistake. Unless the legislature passes a revenue bill today—which seems unlikely—the state budget is unbalanced. Lawmakers sent…
Media
Read More: Wolf Legally Required to Reduce SpendingState Budget
Philadelphia’s Cigarette Tax Falls Short
Philadelphia collected nearly $59 million in cigarette taxes between July 2015 and June 2016. Well below the $77.5 million originally anticipated by state lawmakers, according to Anna Orso…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia’s Cigarette Tax Falls Short