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
Cap-and-Trade Threatens Pennsylvania Agriculture
The PA Farm Bureau recently released an article in the September edition of Country Focus illustrating the stifling effects Waxman-Markey legislation will have on rural farming communities across Pennsylvania.
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Read More: Cap-and-Trade Threatens Pennsylvania AgricultureState Budget
An Honest Budget Debate
Gov. Rendell and many lawmakers continue to push higher taxes in Pennsylvania, using the rhetoric that if we don’t, students won’t learn,…
Media
Read More: An Honest Budget DebateState Budget
Re-examine Public Welfare Spending
Pennsylvania has, as of this writing, gone 90 days without a budget, longer than any other state. The impasse has been driven by Gov. Rendell's demand for higher spending and…
Commentary
Read More: Re-examine Public Welfare SpendingHealth Care
States to Challenge Individual Mandate
The New York Times has a story on state legislators pushing back against the individual mandate that could be a part of health care reform. Health Care Horse…
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Pennsylvania’s Medicaid, CHIP costs predicted to soar
Topics on this page MedicaidPennsylvania…
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Read More: Pennsylvania’s Medicaid, CHIP costs predicted to soarPublic Union Democracy
Union Organizers Drown Out Voice of Rep. Bear
Today the state capital was abuzz with clamorous shouting from protesting union members. What was all the hullabaloo about? Union members organized in opposition to a press conference about a…
Media
Read More: Union Organizers Drown Out Voice of Rep. BearRegulation
Hanger’s Flawed Defense of HB 80
Pennsylvania DEP Secretary John Hanger has an absurd editorial defending House Bill 80. His op-ed blatantly ignores the cost that the regulations in House Bill 80 would place…
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Read More: Hanger’s Flawed Defense of HB 80Regulation
Torts, Taxes Hinder Pennsylvania’s Prosperity
Wrongheaded economic development policies and one of the nation's worst labor climates are serious impediments to Pennsylvania's prosperity. As if those obstacles were not enough, the commonwealth also has saddled…
Commentary
Read More: Torts, Taxes Hinder Pennsylvania’s ProsperityPublic Union Democracy
Teachers Compelled To Fund ACORN
The group ACORN has been in the news more often than it probably prefers to be, especially of late. But such is its notoriety. ACORN is not…
Media
Read More: Teachers Compelled To Fund ACORN
Property Taxes by State
The Tax Foundation put out a new map of property taxes by state for owner-occupied homes. Pennsylvania ranks 11th highest, with the average tax rate of 1.34% of home…
Media
Read More: Property Taxes by StateEducation
Is Gov. Rendell “for the Kids” at All?
On Friday, the REACH Foundation hosted a rally at the state capitol in defense of Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit, which…
Media
Read More: Is Gov. Rendell “for the Kids” at All?State Budget
PA Budget Deal Undone?
It would seem that the reported Pennsylvania state budget ‘deal’ is in jeopardy: GrassrootsPA reports at least 5 Senate Republicans will…
Media
Read More: PA Budget Deal Undone?Taxes & Economy
New Resources on National Energy Proposals
Earlier this month, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) released an updated version of their booklet, Energy Tax Analysis. The report includes seven new areas of interest and…
Media
Read More: New Resources on National Energy ProposalsGovernment Accountability
Weekly Blog Roundup
Here are some of the latest bloggers citing Commonwealth Foundation work: PA Water Cooler highlights our look into how much state money ACORN is getting and on Matt Brouillette’s…
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Read More: Weekly Blog Roundup
Torts, taxes hinder Pennsylvania’s prosperity
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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Read More: Torts, taxes hinder Pennsylvania’s prosperity
State budget deal has plenty of broad taxes
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Read More: State budget deal has plenty of broad taxesState Budget
PA Budget Impasse Can’t Stop Another Million Dollar Consulting Deal
John Micek of the Morning Call reports that the Pennsylvania state Treasurer has awarded a $928,000 consulting contract for marketing of the prepaid college tuition program – a program…
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Read More: PA Budget Impasse Can’t Stop Another Million Dollar Consulting DealTaxes & Economy
Two New State Business Climate Rankings
The Tax Foundation released their updated State Business Tax Climate Index for FY 2010. In the latest rendition, Pennsylvania ranks 27th overall. Broken down by category the Keystone State…
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Read More: Two New State Business Climate Rankings