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.”
Leasing the turnpike is a better way for Pa
Former PA Transporation Secretary (and Turnpike Commissioner) Howard Yerusalim on the Turnpike lease in the Philadelphia Inquirer: Already, similar public-private lease arrangements are working in Indiana and the…
Media
Read More: Leasing the turnpike is a better way for PaState Budget
Budget Deal Reached
While taxpayers and state workers slept, lawmakers shook hands on a budget deal. John Micek has some of the details, as does the Patriot News. General Fund budget:…
Media
Read More: Budget Deal ReachedTaxes & Economy
Congressional Guardian of Worker Freedom Rankings
Alliance for Worker Freedomhas released an index rating members of Congress by their votes on worker freedom or for the big labor agenda. Here are the House ratings.
Media
Read More: Congressional Guardian of Worker Freedom RankingsRegulation
Senate passes transporation P3 bill
The Senate yesterday passed a bill allowing for Public Private Partnerships in transportation (bill text). The big Kahuna, the Turnpike lease, is exempted from the legislation, but it…
Media
Read More: Senate passes transporation P3 bill
Turnpike Commission Pushes Premature Vote on Lease Plan to Kill It
House Transportation Committee may vote on lease proposal on Saturday HARRISBURG, PA — On the heels of two days of hearings in the House Transportation Committee on the proposed…
Press Release
Read More: Turnpike Commission Pushes Premature Vote on Lease Plan to Kill It
PTC Still Stalling on I-80 Tolling
The Turnpike Commission revealed today they won’t resubmit their proposal to toll I-80 until August. That means it will take nine months to answer the questions asked by the feds. …
Media
Read More: PTC Still Stalling on I-80 TollingEducation
The Liberace Complex?
The York Daily Record has a story on the South Eastern School District paying $97,000 for – wait for it – a grand piano. I may have to…
Media
Read More: The Liberace Complex?Government Accountability
The end of “campaign finance reform”?
The Supreme Court was busy yesterday, in its second major ruling, they struck down a portion of McCain Feingold campaign finance restrictions, ruling that the “millionaire exemption” is unconstitutional.
Media
Read More: The end of “campaign finance reform”?Taxes & Economy
Mexicans and Machines
The latest Drew Carey video on Reason TV tackles NAFTA, robots stealing jobs, and the benefits of creative descrution. I don’t know whether I laughed harder at the machines…
Media
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PTC CEO Brimmeier Won’t Debate
In addition to highlighting the launch of TurnpikeFacts.com, Toll Roads News reports on Joe Brimmeier’s refusal to debate the lease issue with the Pennsylvania Transportation Partnership. Apparently, he…
Media
Read More: PTC CEO Brimmeier Won’t DebateGovernment Accountability
Turnpike Commission Lobbying Expenses
Here are the Turnpike Commission’s 2007-08 lobbyist expense reports with the PA Dept. of StateThat comes to $519,000 over 15 months (just at the state level). Jan…
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Read More: Turnpike Commission Lobbying ExpensesTaxes & Economy
House passes divestment legislation . . . Third times a charm
The Pennsylvania House, by a vote of 185-15, approved the latest divestiture legislation. The bill (HB1086), sponsored by Rep. Shapiro, calls for the PERS and SERS…
Media
Read More: House passes divestment legislation . . . Third times a charmRegulation
Soccer Stadium Plans: No Goal
Recently, Governor Rendell and Republican state lawmakers stood side-by-side to announce a multi-million dollar taxpayer grant to build a soccer stadium in Chester, under the guise of "economic development." Major…
Commentary
Read More: Soccer Stadium Plans: No GoalState Budget
Stop the Borrowing: $110B is Enough!
HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation sounded an alarm today that both Governor Rendell and state lawmakers are poised to take citizens deeper into debt. “Putting the people of…
Press Release
Read More: Stop the Borrowing: $110B is Enough!Taxes & Economy
Right to Bear Arms Still Exists
The Supreme Court ruled that individuals have the right to own guns. Click here for the Patriot News story. Some early commentary from Reason Foundation, Amanda Carpenter,…
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Read More: Right to Bear Arms Still ExistsHealth Care
How much will an autism mandate cost?
The PA Health Care Containment Council allegedly has a study (it hasn’t been released, but some media are reporting on it) claiming that a new mandate that insurance companies…
Media
Read More: How much will an autism mandate cost?Health Care
Do Democrats want people to die?
Yesterday, I got an email from a lobbying organization, which masquerades as a grassroots organization, led by Governor Rendell’s campaign manager with the subject, “As The Senate Delays, People…
Media
Read More: Do Democrats want people to die?
The Turnpike Commission’s misinformation campaign
Here is a collection of news stories and posts on the Turnpike Commission’s toll-funded lobbying, marketing, and misinformation campaign to protect and expand their fiefdom. TV Ad Campaign…
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Read More: The Turnpike Commission’s misinformation campaignEducation
Academic progress? Think again
A new study by the Center for Education Policy claims significant improvement in student achievement across the country. The Cato Institute discounts the study…
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Read More: Academic progress? Think againRegulation
State to save us from danger of unauthorized massages
The PA House voted 193-5 to create a new board to license massage therapists (HT GrassrootsPA). The board will collect licensing fees fees, certify educational requirements, test would-be…
Media
Read More: State to save us from danger of unauthorized massagesEducation
School Officials Raise Salaries Again
An article in the Pottstown Mercury today highlights the salaries of school officials in the Pottstown School District. The school board voted on raises for administrators twice in the…
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Read More: School Officials Raise Salaries Again