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
Legislators Pack Health Care Legislation with Christmas Presents – For Themselves
This is the time of the year when most people are so busy with holiday preparations they lose track of what the government is doing with their hard-earned tax money.
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Read More: Legislators Pack Health Care Legislation with Christmas Presents – For ThemselvesTaxes & Economy
Lessons of Scrooge
Tony Phyrillas points to a DotPenn article on “Why Scrooge is a Progressive.” While DotPenn is typically a satire/humor blog, the the lesson of Ebenezer Scrooge is…
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Gerlach Calls for End to Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Jim Gerlach has echoed calls for an end to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. This comes a few days after the…
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Read More: Gerlach Calls for End to Pennsylvania Turnpike CommissionTaxes & Economy
Final Numbers: Bush Biggest Spender Since LBJ
Chris Edwards of the Cato Institute updates the numbers on federal spending under George W. Bush with the final spending for FY 2009 in the books. While some of…
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Read More: Final Numbers: Bush Biggest Spender Since LBJTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvanians More Unhappy Than Most
As the winter rolls around there is a lot to be unhappy about especially in the northeast regions of the United States. It is no wonder the a new…
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Read More: Pennsylvanians More Unhappy Than MostEducation
Following Our Bad Example: The Tuition Tax Idea Spreads
The consideration of a tuition tax is appealing to populations beyond Pennsylvania as cities look to prop up budgets. Leave it to California to be the first to jump on…
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Read More: Following Our Bad Example: The Tuition Tax Idea SpreadsRegulation
PA Stores to Get Wine Vending Machines that Check ID
The Patriot News has a story that about 100 Pennsylvania stores will get wine kiosks, and the machines will check drivers licenses, give a breathalyzer, and accept payments. The…
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Read More: PA Stores to Get Wine Vending Machines that Check IDRegulation
PA Lawmakers Need Table Games to Fund Pork Projects
Mario Cattabiani writes in the the Philadelphia Inquirer about all the pet projects funded in the table games bill. He writes: It parcels out the local share in…
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Constitutional convention is the best solution to Pennsylvania’s legislative woes
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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Power to the people: A state constitutional convention is the way back
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Five Things That Can Threaten Pa.’s Economy
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‘Tea Party’: health care push ‘more about power’
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Brouillette, Epstein have made their lists and checked them twice
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Read More: Brouillette, Epstein have made their lists and checked them twiceRegulation
Taxpayers Fund Defense of Gaming Board Employees
As table game legislation inches towards final approval another reason to doubt the integrity and fiscal responsibility of the PA Gaming Control board has come to light. The Gaming Control…
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Read More: Taxpayers Fund Defense of Gaming Board EmployeesTaxes & Economy
Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax? Part III
Pennsylvania has a flat rate Personal Income Tax (PIT) of 3.07%. In this blog series, I will highlight some real facts about Pennsylvania’s PIT. Visit Who Pays the…
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Read More: Who Pays Pennsylvania’s Personal Income Tax? Part IIITaxes & Economy
PA Highway System Ranked 38th in Nation
Tony Phyrillas highlights Pennsylvania standings in the Reason Foundation’s 18th Annual Highway Report. PA ranks 38 among the most cost-effective state-owned highway systems. The top five include…
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Transparency is key to confidence in state government
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Administrators face more pressure in “Climategate” investigation
Topics on this page Climatic Research Unit email controversy…
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Read More: Administrators face more pressure in “Climategate” investigationTaxes & Economy
CF Sends Letter to FHWA on I-80 Tolling
Today, Commonwealth Foundation president Matthew Brouillette sent a letter to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Pennsylvania’s members of Congress expressing concerns over the proposed tolling of Interstate 80…
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Read More: CF Sends Letter to FHWA on I-80 TollingRegulation
PA Senate Approves $1.7 Billion in New Borrowing
While the debate over table games continues, another piece of legislation passed with little debate was the $1.7 billion in borrowing for the state capital budget. HB…
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Read More: PA Senate Approves $1.7 Billion in New BorrowingHealth Care
States Push Back Against National Healthcare
With the health care debate still brewing on the floor of the US Senate, states are pushing back against the prospect of a government-run healthcare system. The American Legislative…
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