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
The Totally Different Pennsylvania Budget Deal
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Senate decided they were going to go their own way on the state budget, angered at House Democrat’s…
Media
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Realities of Severance Tax
On Friday, the Pennsylvania House passed a tax bill with numerous tax hikes (and a few cuts).
Media
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It’s Time To Re-examine Public Welfare Spending
Topics on this page Welfare spending…
Media Hit
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An Honest Debate About State Spending
Throughout the budget process, Rendell has used this same tactic, called a "Washington Monument" ploy. From claiming education would be set back decades, to asserting state police would have to…
Commentary
Read More: An Honest Debate About State SpendingRegulation
Arnold Kling’s Diagnosis of the Financial Crisis
In his paper titled NOT WHAT THEY HAD IN MIND: A History of Policies that Produced the Financial Crisis of 2008, Arnold Kling provides historical context and analysis to…
Media
Read More: Arnold Kling’s Diagnosis of the Financial CrisisState Budget
The Best And Worst Ways To Eliminate A Budget Deficit
John Nothdurft of The Heartland Institute wrote this last February… Anybody listening in Harrisburg? Legislatures in at least 39 states will have to take steps by the end of…
Media
Read More: The Best And Worst Ways To Eliminate A Budget DeficitEducation
Charter School Students Outperform Peers
The results of a recent study by a Stanford economist strengthens the case for charter schools by debunking the myth that charter school student outperform traditional students because…
Media
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PA House Approves More Debt for Pork
Lost in the shuffle over the Pennsylvania state (operating) budget was a vote over the weekend over the state capital budget, which was approved by the Pennsylvania House. The…
Media
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NTU Launches “Special Delivery” Video Project
The National Taxpayers Union has recently announced a new video project aimed at letting the American taxpayer have their say in the healthcare debate. Entitled the “Special Delivery Project”, NTU is encouraging Americans…
Media
Read More: NTU Launches “Special Delivery” Video ProjectState Budget
“Big Helicopter” and Big Hollywood
While debating their myriad of tax increases (which was eventually approved by the chamber), Pennsylvania House Democrats continued to demonize “Big…
Media
Read More: “Big Helicopter” and Big HollywoodEducation
Calls to Action on Protecting School Choice in Pennsylvania
As reported earlier, the tax bill put out by Pennsylvania House Democrats would cut the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit by…
Media
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Another state budget proposal collapses
Media Hit
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What’s in the PA House Democrats Tax Bill?
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House Rules Committee approved a “gut-and-replace” amendment to HB 1531 – which had previously been a bill to extend tax relief for military families – which…
Media
Read More: What’s in the PA House Democrats Tax Bill?State Budget
Pennsylvania Revenue Collections Fall Short Again
The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue released their revenue estimates for September. The collections were $119 million below estimates for the month, and $300 million less than collected one year…
Media
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October Surprise: Rush to Vote on Tax Hikes
I’ve just received word that Democrats are planning to rush a tax increase vote in the state House of Representatives tomorrow! Specifically, House Democrats are going to hold a vote on legislation…
Media
Read More: October Surprise: Rush to Vote on Tax HikesTaxes & Economy
Tax Cuts, Not Government Spending, Good for Economic Growth
There is a good piece in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal on the effect of government spending on economic growth. The conclusion is that government spending does not “stimulate” the…
Media
Read More: Tax Cuts, Not Government Spending, Good for Economic GrowthRegulation
Why State Government Shouldn’t “Invest” Taxpayer Money
There have been countless examples of failed corporate welfare under Governor Rendell, and Governor Ridge before him. The latest example coming from Lebanon, PA: Lebanon Daily News, August 14,…
Media
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Governing “Responsibly”
Lowman Henry has another good commentary on the Pennsylvania state budget “deal” over at PA Town Hall: I find it interesting that when Democrats stick to…
Media
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Pennsylvania Budget Deal Appears Dead
The news service Capitolwire (subscribers only) is reporting that PA House Democrat leaders are admitting they don’t have enough votes to pass the state budget deal, give all of…
Media
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State Budget Would Use Medical Liability Funds
Media Hit
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