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
Budget Facts 2009: Budget Deal = Budget Deficits
Unfortunately, even if the Pennsylvania economy recovered to unprecedented level in next two years, there is no way it could possibly produce enough tax revenue to bridge the budgetary canyon…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Budget Facts 2009: Budget Deal = Budget DeficitsState Budget
Did PA Really Need Higher Taxes?
Yesterday, blogger for the Time Herald/State Senator Daylin Leach attacked ATR’s no-tax pledge and Sen. Orie for signing it a few years ago before voting to increase taxes…
Media
Read More: Did PA Really Need Higher Taxes?Taxes & Economy
Repealing Death Tax Will Create Jobs and Boost Economy in Pennsylvania
Eliminating the Death Tax could create over 1.5 million jobs for small and family business workers, including 64,442 jobs in Pennsylvania. An increase in the Death Tax rates to 55%…
Report
Read More: Repealing Death Tax Will Create Jobs and Boost Economy in PennsylvaniaCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania Corrections Spending
Facing a massive budget deficit, and with sizeable financial obligations looming, Pennsylvania needs to re-examine how taxpayer dollars are spent. Spending on the Department of Corrections has grown far beyond…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania Corrections SpendingEducation
Misguided Efforts Fail to Make College More Affordable
Gubernatorial hopeful Jack Wagner pledged to start a scholarship program to help students who decide to stay in Pennsylvania to attend college. The proposed HOPE (Helping Our Pupils to…
Media
Read More: Misguided Efforts Fail to Make College More AffordableRegulation
Pensions and Skyrocketing Taxes
Ethan Demme has a good synopsis of the coming crisis in state and local pensions in Pennnsylvania, and why this will drive up taxes, from the RE Harper Economic…
Media
Read More: Pensions and Skyrocketing TaxesGovernment Accountability
Weekly Blog Roundup
The uproar over the budget this week has spurred many bloggers to look to CF research and analysis: Grassroots PA and Sights on Pennsylvania give links to Nate…
Media
Read More: Weekly Blog RoundupGovernment Accountability
What Voters Think of PA Judges and Courts
A recent statewide public opinion survey conducted by The Federalist Society – in advance of November’s judicial elections – showed Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly support our system of judicial selection…
Media
Read More: What Voters Think of PA Judges and CourtsRegulation
Punishing the Next Generation: The Rendell Pension Legacy
As the Rendell administration moves inexorably toward its finish line in January 2011, it is reasonable to begin considering the issues awaiting the next governor. Of significant note is Rendell's…
Commentary
Read More: Punishing the Next Generation: The Rendell Pension LegacyTaxes & Economy
New Study Highlights Flaws in I-80 Tolling Plan
A new study on the impact of tolling I-80 in Pennsylvania by Grove City College economist Tracy Miller highlights several flaws in the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s plan to toll…
Media
Read More: New Study Highlights Flaws in I-80 Tolling PlanHealth Care
CF Joins 32 State Think Tanks in Offering Alternative, Patient-Centered Reforms
The Commonwealth Foundation joined leaders from 32 other state think tanks in announcing a “patient-centered” plan for health care reform. In response to national calls for an alternative to Obamacare…
Media
Read More: CF Joins 32 State Think Tanks in Offering Alternative, Patient-Centered Reforms
Budget cuts force PBS-39 to cancel programs
Media Hit
Read More: Budget cuts force PBS-39 to cancel programsGovernment Accountability
Wither Spending Transparency in PA?
Over the past few years, and throughout the state budget debate, the Commonwealth Foundation and other state and national groups have called for state…
Media
Read More: Wither Spending Transparency in PA?Health Care
Competition in Health Care would Lower Costs
A report by Dr. Sven Larson from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation examines policies to remove government barriers and restore competition to the market for individual…
Media
Read More: Competition in Health Care would Lower Costs
Big trouble awaiting the next Pa. governor
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
Read More: Big trouble awaiting the next Pa. governorTaxes & Economy
Breakdown of State and Local Government Tax Revenues
The Tax Foundation has a new report profiling the percentage of state and local government tax revenues by source for each state. Here is how Pennsylvania compares (getting a…
Media
Read More: Breakdown of State and Local Government Tax RevenuesRegulation
Washington Post Highlights Pension Crisis
The Washington Post ran an article Sunday on how market losses have put state and local government pension plans seriously in the red. The article makes mention of the…
Media
Read More: Washington Post Highlights Pension Crisis