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.”
Health Care
HSAs: Efficient Heath Care and Savings for State Taxpayers
A recent op-ed by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels in the Wall Street Journal highlights the benefits his state has seen since implementing an optional Health Savings Account (HSA) for…
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Read More: HSAs: Efficient Heath Care and Savings for State TaxpayersTaxes & Economy
About 25% of Highway Fund Doesn’t go to Highways
Robert Poole has a Washington Times article on how federal gas tax money in the “highway fund” is often diverted to other political purposes. Today, the federal role…
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Read More: About 25% of Highway Fund Doesn’t go to HighwaysTaxes & Economy
A Low-Carbon Fuel Standard is Bad Policy
Days before Pennsylvanians rang in the New Year, Gov. Rendell signed an agreement that paves the way for one of the most radical (and expensive) changes in Pennsylvania’s energy history.
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Read More: A Low-Carbon Fuel Standard is Bad PolicyPublic Union Democracy
Teacher Unions Bankrupting the State
The pension crisis has been looming large throughout the state, yet pension reform proposals in Pennsylvania have been met with protests by school employees unions. The Pottstown…
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Some interests more special than the rest
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State’s Unemployed See Benefits Shortened
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Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: March 2010
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue reports that through the end of February, state General Fund revenues are $477 million below estimate for the 2009-10 fiscal year.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: March 2010Regulation
Rendell’s Pension “Fix” Merely Delays Costs
With his 2010-11 budget, Gov. Rendell got around to addressing the looming pension crisis. However, his proposed “fix” – re-amortizing the liabilities over 30 years, then phasing in the…
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Read More: Rendell’s Pension “Fix” Merely Delays CostsTaxes & Economy
PPL Proposes Distribution Rate Increase
PPL is hoping to “modestly” increase distribution rates next year. This is the regulated part of your electricity bill which is not subject to competition. There is no word…
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Read More: PPL Proposes Distribution Rate IncreaseTaxes & Economy
New Jersey Has Lessons for PA?
Yes, New Jersey does have lessons for Pennsylvania. Governor Chris Christie proposed a plan to reduce some unemployment benefits. Employers were about to see an increase in their unemployment…
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Gov. Ed Rendell’s trip to rescue 54 Haitian orphans cost taxpayers after all
Topics on this page Ed Rendell…
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Electric Choice Trumps a Rate Cap Phase-in
The York Dispatch reports West Manchester Township is entering into a consortium to hedge against future electricity rate increases as rate caps are set to end for the area…
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Read More: Electric Choice Trumps a Rate Cap Phase-inTaxes & Economy
“Jobs Saved” Estimates were Pre-Determined
The Congressional Budget Office announced last month that 1.5 million jobs were created or saved by the $862 billion stimulus package, a number many use to claim the stimulus…
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Read More: “Jobs Saved” Estimates were Pre-DeterminedHealth Care
The President’s Empty Health Care Promises
The White House has on its website an article titled, “The President’s Proposal puts American families and small business owners in control of their own health care.” According to…
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Read More: The President’s Empty Health Care PromisesTaxes & Economy
Transportation Industry Misleads on I-80 Tolling
A couple of recent editorials in favor of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s plan to toll I-80 – both by transportation industry insiders – gives some misleading info. Peter Javsicas of…
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Read More: Transportation Industry Misleads on I-80 TollingTaxes & Economy
Marcellus Shale Powering Job Growth
TMK-IPSCO, an oil-and-gas pipe maker, recently announced its plan to build a new manufacturing facility roughly 60 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, just over the Ohio state line. The new…
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Read More: Marcellus Shale Powering Job Growth
Mellow’s state pension could be triple his salary
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Read More: Mellow’s state pension could be triple his salary
Pennsylvania really needs federal government to approve tolls for I-80
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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It’s hard to determine number of state jobs caused by stimulus
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