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.”
Health Care
Address Health Care, Not Health Insurance
Letter to the editor in The Daily Item focus on the Senate Republican’s health care reform plan, specifically their proposal to aid free clinics. While I agree with…
Media
Read More: Address Health Care, Not Health InsuranceRegulation
House Republicans Highlight Debt, Rendell Spending
AP article on House Republicans (at least some of them) noting the enormous burden of debt on Pennsylvania taxpayers before voting on more borrowing for corporate welfare.
Media
Read More: House Republicans Highlight Debt, Rendell SpendingGovernment Accountability
Perzel, Fumo at Secret Budget Negotiations
John Micek reports on the details of the secret budget negotiations: The players last night:House Dems: Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, Whip Keith McCall and Appropriations Chair Dwight…
Media
Read More: Perzel, Fumo at Secret Budget NegotiationsRegulation
The State’s Rosy Scenarios
We live in uncertain times. This maxim is often heard in the corridors of the state Capitol where Excel spreadsheets support the marketing of new initiatives based on long-term financial…
Commentary
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The Turnpike Commission’s Family Tree
Here is our newest video – PikeTV episode 1 Click here for more on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission at TurnpikeFacts.com Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: The Turnpike Commission’s Family TreeEducation
“Intellectual Diversity” means no Milton Friedman?
Several University of Chicago professors are protesting the university’s plan to unveil a Milton Friedman Institute, because that would “reinforce among the public a perception that the university’s faculty…
Media
Read More: “Intellectual Diversity” means no Milton Friedman?Taxes & Economy
Two charts worth 1,000 words or more
HT: Greg Mankiw HT: Club for Growth…
Media
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TurnpikeFacts.com Exposes Turnpike Commissions Fiction
Commonwealth Foundation educational campaign explores the costs, benefits, and potential pitfalls of a Turnpike lease HARRISBURG, PA — In anticipation of the upcoming debate in Harrisburg about the merits…
Press Release
Read More: TurnpikeFacts.com Exposes Turnpike Commissions FictionTaxes & Economy
Electricity Deregulation in Pennsylvania
In 2010, PPL rate caps will expire, which is expected to result in a sudden rise in the price of electricity. Ending government regulation signals an end to artificial…
Media
Read More: Electricity Deregulation in PennsylvaniaGovernment Accountability
Smoking Ban shows need for part-time legislature
Nathan Shrader makes the case that the smoking ban – along with other nonsensical legislation – shows why Pennsylvania should move to a part-time, citizen legislature.
Media
Read More: Smoking Ban shows need for part-time legislatureTaxes & Economy
Economic Illiteracy of Presidential Candidates
Here is a good editorial in the Wall Street Journal on the economic illiteracy (or perhaps pandering with economic nonsense) of McCain and Obama. I should mention the author…
Media
Read More: Economic Illiteracy of Presidential CandidatesState Budget
Pennsylvania Senate Proposes Spending Diet
Low-growth budget is a step in the right direction, but will House and Governor agree? HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Senate recently passed a state spending plan for the upcoming…
Press Release
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How many lobbyists does it take to drive a bus?
Mass transit is in trouble, we are told. Despite exposes of waste, legislators and the Governor feel we need to pump more money into transit systems (without reforming them),…
Media
Read More: How many lobbyists does it take to drive a bus?Taxes & Economy
Power surge in Nashville
Shortly after the release of Al Gore’s Academy Award-winning film, An Inconvenient Truth, one of our sister think tanks, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, discovered Gore’s home energy…
Media
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Will Markosek ask for return of taxpayer’s money?
Blog readers may recall a study commissioned by House Democrats, championed by Transportation Committee Chair Joe Markosek, paid for with $75,000 of taxpayer funds. The study supposedly said Act…
Media
Read More: Will Markosek ask for return of taxpayer’s money?Taxes & Economy
State Personal Income and Ethanol Policy
The BEA issued their quarterly update of state personal income. Normally, my comments on these reports are limited to how Pennsylvania is lagging behind the national average (true again…
Media
Read More: State Personal Income and Ethanol PolicyTaxes & Economy
Obama: NAFTA not so bad after all
Barack Obama tells Fortune magazine that NAFTA hasn’t been as bad as he said it was. It may have been that he was pandering during the campaign, or it…
Media
Read More: Obama: NAFTA not so bad after allGovernment Accountability
Josephs offers lip service on reform
Tony Phyrillas is the latest to criticize the House State Government Committee chair for single-handedly stalling redistricting reform Joining Phyrillas on that bandwagon – Governor Ed…
Media
Read More: Josephs offers lip service on reformState Budget
Senate Passes Trimmed Down Budget
Tired of waiting for the House Democrats to pass a budget bill, the Senate today passed their own version (as an amendment to supplemental appropriations for last year).
Media
Read More: Senate Passes Trimmed Down Budget
Proposed School Funding Formula Explained
The Morning Call ran a story yesterday, including comments by me, on how Governor Rendell’s proposed funding formula will benefit schools that have raised property taxes rather than schools…
Media
Read More: Proposed School Funding Formula ExplainedRegulation
Pensions ‘spike’ troubles state officials
Deb Erdley has an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on how lawmakers are starting to pay attention to the looming crisis in state pension plans. The only quibble…
Media
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