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.”
Taxes & Economy
The Downside to Government Spending
While federal stimulus funding for turtle tunnels, ant colony research, iPod Touch devices for students, and Blackberry smart phones for smokers might stimulate a few Americans,…
Media
Read More: The Downside to Government SpendingHealth Care
PA Medicaid Enrollment Reaches All-Time High
One in six Pennsylvanians are now eligible for Medicaid or Medical Assistance, thanks to the economic downturn and generous eligibility standards. The Post-Gazette reports 2.2 million individuals now rely…
Media
Read More: PA Medicaid Enrollment Reaches All-Time HighTaxes & Economy
Video: Cost of Natural Gas Drilling in Pennsylvania
In this video, from a 2009 Commonwealth Foundation luncheon, State Senator Mary Jo White speaks about the costs of drilling in Pennsylvania compared to other similar states. To learn…
Media
Read More: Video: Cost of Natural Gas Drilling in PennsylvaniaHealth Care
Why Obama Can’t “Sell” the Health Care Law
The AP writes that President Obama blames himself for not “selling” the health care law — this despite giving dozens of speeches on the issue and spending millions…
Media
Read More: Why Obama Can’t “Sell” the Health Care Law
Three Myths about Free Market Conservatives
Working for a free-market think tank, one hears all the attacks against conservatives and endures being given many labels. Three of the most common attacks launched by both those who…
Commentary
Read More: Three Myths about Free Market ConservativesTaxes & Economy
All Is Not What It Appears to Be
Hey! Did you know that what is depicted in those nature documentaries is not always genuinely “in the wild?” It’s often set up in controlled circumstances, according to Chris Palmer,…
Media
Read More: All Is Not What It Appears to Be
Public-sector unions serve no public interest outside themselves
Media Hit
Read More: Public-sector unions serve no public interest outside themselvesTaxes & Economy
The Hail Mary for Solar Subsidies
Solar power advocates’ fight to triple the state’s costly solar energy mandates took a new turn this week. Proponents, including DEP Secretary Hanger and Governor Rendell, urged the…
Media
Read More: The Hail Mary for Solar SubsidiesState Budget
Being Tough on Crime Is Not Enough
With one in 28 Pennsylvanians in jail or prison, on probation, or on parole in 2007 — at the cost of more than $1.8 billion — Pennsylvania is at a…
Media
Read More: Being Tough on Crime Is Not EnoughTaxes & Economy
Video: Bradford County Residents Talk About a Natural Gas Tax
In this video, part of a forthcoming series on the Marcellus Shale natural gas boom in Pennsylvania, residents from Bradford County speak out about the proposed natural gas severance…
Media
Read More: Video: Bradford County Residents Talk About a Natural Gas TaxEducation
Commonwealth Foundation Launches Online Portal Tracking Education Spending and Achievement in Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA – How much does education cost the average Pennsylvania taxpayer? What percentage of students passes basic achievement tests? How much is per pupil spending in a given district?…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Launches Online Portal Tracking Education Spending and Achievement in PennsylvaniaRegulation
Film Tax Credits are Bad Economics
Josh Barro of the Manhattan Institute hammers on film tax credits, which have been so popular among lawmakers in Pennsylvania and other states, who love when movie stars…
Media
Read More: Film Tax Credits are Bad EconomicsTaxes & Economy
Video: Natural Gas Drilling Jobs
For our upcoming video series on the Marcellus Shale natural gas boom in Pennsylvania, Know the Drill, we visited Bradford County and spoke with local officials, rig workers, contractors, and…
Media
Read More: Video: Natural Gas Drilling JobsTaxes & Economy
Solar Claims Need Scrutiny
There’s nothing wrong with solar energy, but government officials (like Gov. Rendell and Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger) shouldn’t mislead the public to drum up support for taxpayer funding of…
Media
Read More: Solar Claims Need ScrutinyRegulation
Privatizing Pittsburgh Parking
The Post-Gazette reports the highest bid for a lease of Pittsburgh’s public parking garages came in at $452 million, well above what was expected. While the city of Pittsburgh…
Media
Read More: Privatizing Pittsburgh ParkingTaxes & Economy
Odd Headline of the Day
CNN reports, “Stocks rally to 4-month highs after economists report recession ended in June 2009.” Three comments: Are you surprised to learn the recession ended 15 months…
Media
Read More: Odd Headline of the DayRegulation
Marcellus Money Yields $88 Million Gift to Penn State
The Post-Gazette reports that Terry Pegula, who recently sold his company that was drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale, donated $88 million to Penn State University to…
Media
Read More: Marcellus Money Yields $88 Million Gift to Penn StateTaxes & Economy
Citizens Scrimp As Government Spends
With grim economic statistics mounting both here in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation, more and more of our fellow citizens are engaging in a collective belt-tightening. It is only our…
Commentary
Read More: Citizens Scrimp As Government SpendsTaxes & Economy
Survey of Marcellus Shale Residents
The Penn State Cooperative Extension has outlined findings from a survey of residents in the Marcellus Shale region (including New York, which still has a moratorium on drilling). The…
Media
Read More: Survey of Marcellus Shale ResidentsTaxes & Economy
Which States are Stealing Pennsylvania Residents?
The Tax Foundation has launched a new, awesome interactive tool that looks at IRS data, tracking moves into and out of each state. The bottom line for Pennsylvania is…
Media
Read More: Which States are Stealing Pennsylvania Residents?