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
REAL ID in PA update
Miss Behavin writes about Pennsylvania lawmakers efforts to respond to REAL ID, and specifically on the latest hearing. More info on the REAL ID backlash here. Topics…
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Read More: REAL ID in PA updateGovernment Accountability
Cerberus keeps another reform in Limbo
Tracy Mauriello of the Post-Gazette reports that House State Government Committee chair Babette Josephs (who I termed the Cerberus of the General Assembly) tabled a bill on redistricting…
Media
Read More: Cerberus keeps another reform in LimboHealth Care
Fixing Health Care in the States
The Wall Street Journal has two articles about health insurance reform in other states. First, from Florida, where the state has enacted a law that will allow low-cost, mandate…
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US Transportation Sec. Peters likes Turnpike lease deal
US Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters expressed support for the Pennsylvania Turnpike lease deal on the department’s blog. Toll Roads News has the coverage. Peters notes: “If the…
Media
Read More: US Transportation Sec. Peters likes Turnpike lease dealTaxes & Economy
Taxing Porn Back in Vogue
For the 2nd time in a year a Pennsylvania lawmaker has proposed taxing strip clubs, this time it is Rep. Paul Clymer. (HT Grassroots PA) The Tax Foundation…
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Is the Turnpike Commission stalling on I-80?
Congressman Peterson seems to think so, as the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports, and I have already assumed as much. For the record, here is the Act 44 timeline: –…
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Read More: Is the Turnpike Commission stalling on I-80?Education
Homeschooling saves taxpayers
This analysis from the Heritage Foundation (it was released in April, but I missed it until the hullabaloo over Subway and homeschoolers) finds than homeschooling saves American taxpayers…
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Read More: Homeschooling saves taxpayersTaxes & Economy
Tax Lessons from Michigan
Michigan’s recent experience in tax policy, summed up in today’s Wall Street Journal, should offer a lesson to other states. After raising taxes to fill in a budget shortfall,…
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Read More: Tax Lessons from MichiganGovernment Accountability
Fumo makes Reader’s Digest list of corrupt pols
Congratulations are in order for Senator Vince Fumo, who was named “one of the most crooked politicians in America” in this month’s Reader’s Digest, based on his 272…
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‘Pike lease is good option for state road needs
The Morning Call has joined the media outlets endorsing the idea of a Turnpike lease.
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Read More: ‘Pike lease is good option for state road needsTaxes & Economy
Republicans Are in Denial
Tom Coburn in the Wall Street Journal writes on how “Compassionate Conservativsm” destroyed the Republican Party, and how the GOP’s problem isn’t “messaging”, its following through on principles. His…
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Read More: Republicans Are in DenialGovernment Accountability
Big government to blame for out-of-control lobbyists
Amanda Carpenter raises the point that lobbyists, for all their flaws, are not to blame for the corruption in Washington (or Harrisburg), but rather, it is unlimited government that…
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Leasing the Turnpike: Questions & Answers
Commonwealth Foundation and Reason Foundation address common concerns regarding a Public-Private Partnership on Pennsylvania’s toll road HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation and the Los Angeles-based Reason Foundation…
Press Release
Read More: Leasing the Turnpike: Questions & AnswersEducation
Home Skool Stoodents Spel to Gud
I found this story (HT to Michelle Malkin) interesting, mainly because of the irony. Subway is holding an essay contest which excludes homeschoolers—who have…
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Read More: Home Skool Stoodents Spel to GudTaxes & Economy
Federal Taxes and Household Income
The Congressional Budget Office has a new data page which shows the distribution of federal income taxes. Hat Tip to Government Bytes. Topics on this page…
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Read More: Federal Taxes and Household IncomeEducation
PA 12th in ranking of charter school laws
The Center for Education Reform issued a ranking of charter school laws by state. Pennsylvania earns a respectable 12th, earning a ‘B’, but has room for improvement.
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Read More: PA 12th in ranking of charter school lawsTaxes & Economy
Gas Taxes By State
Mark J. Perry posted this map showing gas taxes by state. Note Pennsylvania is a red state on this map. The data source is API Topics…
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Read More: Gas Taxes By StateTaxes & Economy
Economic “stimulus” to deliver?
Bloomberg.com reports most economists think the “job creation” from the economic stimulus package are greatly overstated – if there will be any at all. Oh, now you tell us.
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Read More: Economic “stimulus” to deliver?Taxes & Economy
How much of your workday goes to pay taxes?
The Tax Foundation has put their Tax Freedom Day calculations into an eight-hour workday: How Long America Works to Pay Taxes in…
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Read More: How much of your workday goes to pay taxes?Regulation
Take Us Out to the Ball Game
Reason TV has a new video on whether sports stadiums are really worth it. Nick Gillespie notes that stadium subsidies are just another example of the Edifice…
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Leasing the Turnpike: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Tthe Commonwealth Foundation and the Los Angeles-based Reason Foundation released a policy brief entitled Leasing the Turnpike: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers to help enhance and enlighten the current transportation…
Fact Sheet
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