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
Time to Act on Medicaid Fraud
The Heartland Institute put out a compilation of resources on reducing fraud in Medicaid and Medicare. In Pennsylvania, Auditor General Jack Wagner has found fraud and errors in Medicaid…
Media
Read More: Time to Act on Medicaid FraudTaxes & Economy
Is Minimum Wage the Panacea or the Disease
A new report by the Bureau of Business Research at Ball State University found that the recent minimum wage increases account for 550,000 fewer part-time jobs. According to the…
Media
Read More: Is Minimum Wage the Panacea or the DiseaseHealth Care
Obamacare and Deficits
In campaign-mode fashion, President Obama held a rally at Arcadia University on Monday to sell his plan for health care reform. Filled with the usual rhetoric and emotional, Obama made…
Media
Read More: Obamacare and DeficitsGovernment Accountability
For Whom The Turnpike Tolls
Tolls are appropriate because they are imposed directly upon travelers for their use of roads. However, the plan to toll I-80 represents more than a toll. It is also a…
Commentary
Read More: For Whom The Turnpike TollsRegulation
PA State Troopers Raid Philly Bars
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that dozens of Pennsylvania state troopers raided some Philly bars for selling unregistered brands of beer: Although the bar owners had bought the beer…
Media
Read More: PA State Troopers Raid Philly BarsTaxes & Economy
Sign the Petition for an Independent Investigation of Dr. Mann
Penn State YAF’s (Young Americans for Freedom) petition for academic integrity is now online! On February 12th almost a hundred students and citizens gathered to demand a fair and thorough…
Media
Read More: Sign the Petition for an Independent Investigation of Dr. Mann
Opposition Rising to Philadelphia’s Soda Tax
Opposition has been rising to Mayor Michael Nutter’s proposed tax on sugary drinks in Philadelphia – often referred to as a “soda tax” (but never a “…
Media
Read More: Opposition Rising to Philadelphia’s Soda TaxRegulation
Will History Vanish Without State Spending?
It is an oft-disseminated lie that the government is the needed guardian of our historic sites and museums. Just as the private sector has begun to save our…
Media
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Rendell Proposes Pension Plan, No Game Plan
Media Hit
Read More: Rendell Proposes Pension Plan, No Game PlanHealth Care
Buying Insurance Across State Lines
John Goodman summarizes the issue of interestate competition for health insurance: Every state has mandated health insurance benefits. These are laws requiring insurers to cover services ranging from…
Media
Read More: Buying Insurance Across State LinesGovernment Accountability
Debating a Constitutional Convention
Following Jack Wagner’s announcement that he supports a Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention (he is, I believe, the only candidate for PA Governor to yet endorse a Con Con) has cause…
Media
Read More: Debating a Constitutional ConventionPublic Union Democracy
Rendell’s War on (Some) Special Interests
Gov. Rendell, of course, didn't declare war on all special interests - only those who oppose his tax-borrow-and-spend agenda. For example, while he lambasts the natural gas industry for opposing…
Commentary
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Pennsylvania’s EITC Highlighted in School Choice Yearbook
PA was among those states in which educational opportunity was jeopardized, according to Alliance for School Choice’s yearbook for 2009-10. The report indicates that 2009 brought setbacks, particularly…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s EITC Highlighted in School Choice YearbookRegulation
Gov. Rendell Calls for Changing Pension Benefits for New Hires
In an interview with the Allentown Morning Call, Gov. Rendell calls for changing the pension benefits for new state and school district employees, citing the enormous costs of…
Media
Read More: Gov. Rendell Calls for Changing Pension Benefits for New HiresPublic Union Democracy
Yes, Unemployment Benefits Do Cause Higher Unemployment
David Henderson has a post up on the Econlog blog about how unemployment benefits increase the unemployment rate. He cites himself, the Federal Reserve, and Obama economic advisor Larry…
Media
Read More: Yes, Unemployment Benefits Do Cause Higher Unemployment
PA’s Property Tax Referendum Not Limiting Property Taxes
At a PA Senate hearing this week, Sen. Lisa Boscola grilled the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education on Act 1 – which provided for voter referendum on school property tax…
Media
Read More: PA’s Property Tax Referendum Not Limiting Property TaxesGovernment Accountability
State Office Deal Highlights Rendell’s Cronyism
The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has a story about the state paying to lease office space, even though they’ve closed the office. But the more interesting part of the is…
Media
Read More: State Office Deal Highlights Rendell’s CronyismTaxes & Economy
Who are the Tea Partiers?
The Sam Adams Alliance has a new report out presenting findings from a survey of 50 “tea party movement” leaders. Among the more interesting findings 46.9 percent were uninvolved…
Media
Read More: Who are the Tea Partiers?
State’s Pension Problem Will Likely Lead to Property Tax Hikes
Media Hit
Read More: State’s Pension Problem Will Likely Lead to Property Tax Hikes