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.”
Regulation
Lottery Dollars ARE Tax Dollars!
PA Secretary of Revenue Tom Wolf recently wrote to the Commonwealth Foundation about a mailing we sent out to members of the General Assembly highlighting the inappropriate use…
Media
Read More: Lottery Dollars ARE Tax Dollars!Government Accountability
Activists, Politicians Push Reform in Harrisburg
ABC 27 News video from yesterday’s press conference calling for a special session. Get our news release here.
Media
Read More: Activists, Politicians Push Reform in HarrisburgRegulation
Steelers and the Death Tax (and stadium subsidies)
Wall Street Journal article on how the estate tax may force the Rooney’s to sell the Steelers (not to mention other family owned sports teams, newspapers, and even…
Media
Read More: Steelers and the Death Tax (and stadium subsidies)Government Accountability
A Call For Reform
HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation joined Sen. Jeff Piccola, Rep. Eugene DePasquale, and several other lawmakers and reform groups in calling for a Special Session to address important legislative…
Press Release
Read More: A Call For ReformRegulation
How much do you work for Government?
Americans for Tax Reform has released their 2008 Cost of Government Report today, which happens to be Cost of Government day for the US. Their report is broader than…
Media
Read More: How much do you work for Government?Government Accountability
Powerful Political Insiders
PolitickerPA released their list of Pennsylvania’s 50 most powerful political insiders. Topping the list is Pennsylvania AFL-CIO president William George. Be warned that the rankings were complied…
Media
Read More: Powerful Political InsidersGovernment Accountability
Mark Cohen takes on James Madison
In Federalist #51, James Madison writes of the need to create laws and instititutions to protect citizens against abuses by ambitious men in government: If men were angels,…
Media
Read More: Mark Cohen takes on James MadisonGovernment Accountability
Everyone calls for reform – Except Rendell
Following the bonusgate indictments, there have been many more calls for action to clean up Pennsylvania state government, some from familiar voices, some from new members of the choir…
Media
Read More: Everyone calls for reform – Except RendellTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvania shouldn’t turn I-80 into state’s cash cow
Vindy.com has an editorial against I-80 tolling, noting The state pledges to spend nearly $200 million more on maintenance than it is spending now, But revenue from…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania shouldn’t turn I-80 into state’s cash cowGovernment Accountability
Is graft getting worse or are prosecutors out of control?
Governing Magazine’s July 2008 cover story, “The Corruption Puzzle”, is apropos for Pennsylvania given the recent indictments of 12 people for allegedly using taxpayer money for personal and political…
Media
Read More: Is graft getting worse or are prosecutors out of control?Taxes & Economy
Most I-80 toll revenue to be diverted from I-80
Though the Turnpike Commission unveiled their plan for capital improvements on I-80 (if they get approval to toll it), it remains the case that most of the revenue…
Media
Read More: Most I-80 toll revenue to be diverted from I-80Welfare
Welfare Reform: PA gets poor grades
The Heartland Institute has a new report, Welfare Reform after Ten Years: A State-by-State Analysis (for PDF version click here) ranking the states both on welfare outcomes –…
Media
Read More: Welfare Reform: PA gets poor gradesEducation
School Choice Works
American’s for Tax Reform has a short primer on the success of school vouchers, scholarship, and tax credit programs: There have been a total of ten studies of…
Media
Read More: School Choice Works
Lease I-80 and get facts about lease
Click here for our news release explaining why, if legislators insist on tolling Interstate 80, it should be competitively bid. Also, here is our video on the unveiling…
Media
Read More: Lease I-80 and get facts about leaseEducation
Obama on School Choice: For or Against?
The Cato Institute blog reports that Barack Obama told members of the American Federation of Teachers he is opposed to school vouchers, when referring to the “tired rhetoric about…
Media
Read More: Obama on School Choice: For or Against?Government Accountability
Pennsylvania’s super-sized legislature
There’s nothing like a government scandal to get people in the mood . . . for reform. An article by Anne Reeves in the Patriot-News reminds us why the…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s super-sized legislatureTaxes & Economy
Bush: Drill Now
President Bush will repeal the executive order banning offshore drilling. Of course, the executive order was superseded by a law banning offshore drilling, which Congress will have to…
Media
Read More: Bush: Drill NowGovernment Accountability
Why Turnpike Commission lobbying matters
A reader’s comments on our latest PikeTV video and reports on Turnpike lobbying argues that private bidders are also lobbying, and that tolling I-80 is “more fair” (i.e.
Media
Read More: Why Turnpike Commission lobbying mattersGovernment Accountability
Responses to Bonusgate
Following the bonusgate presentments (indictments), several lawmakers and newspapers are beginning to call for action to clean up state government. Sen Piccola will call for a special session on…
Media
Read More: Responses to BonusgateRegulation
Lease It, If You Must Toll It
Turnpike Commission’s plans for I-80 will cost Pennsylvanians billions HARRISBURG, PA — As the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission rolled out its plans for Interstate 80, the Commonwealth Foundation called on Gov.
Press Release
Read More: Lease It, If You Must Toll ItRegulation
Are tax-exempt bonds for stadiums legal?
The Tax Foundation points to to proposed changes in law by the IRS and Democrats in Congress that would prevent tax exempt bonds from being used for private sports…
Media
Read More: Are tax-exempt bonds for stadiums legal?