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
Conservative Movement, RIP … or Not
Dan Flynn writes that the “Conservative Movement” is dead: Eurocommunism is gone and party conservatives now openly question the utility of even limited government rhetoric in 21st-century America.
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Turnpike Lease to Save Taxpayers $87 Million
As I pointed out last month the Pennsylvania Turnpike continues to receive taxpayer subsidy (even while making payments to PennDoT) to the tune of $120 million per year. In…
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Read More: Turnpike Lease to Save Taxpayers $87 Million
Climate Change Bill to Hurt PA Economy
The Heritage Foundation has a new report on the economic costs of the Lieberman–Warner climate change bill. They have also provided an analysis for each state. The estimated…
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Read More: Climate Change Bill to Hurt PA EconomyTaxes & Economy
Scarnati’s Transportation Plan
Senate Pro Tem Joe Scarnati has announced his own transportation funding plan – which he promised to do in January, including a “hybrid” Turnpike lease plan (he backtracked…
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Read More: Scarnati’s Transportation PlanState Budget
How Bad is the Farm Bill
In light of today’s front page commentary on the federal Farm Bill Fiasco, here are some more links describing how awful this legislation is. Citizen’s Against Government Waste…
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Read More: How Bad is the Farm BillTaxes & Economy
Cappy & Castille Confuse Courage & Cowardice
Tim Potts of Democracy Rising PA offers a commentary on the League of Women Voters lawsuit against former justice Ralph Cappy and Chief Justice Castille’s threats against…
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Read More: Cappy & Castille Confuse Courage & Cowardice
Turnpike Lease Editorials
The Patriot News editorializes that a Turnpike lease appears to be the best option. The Philadelphia Inquirer offers no definite verdict, only noting concerns over “giving up control”…
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PA Turnpike Concession: Gaining control, not losing It
Len Gilroy writes on Reason’s Out of Control blog how a Turnpike Lease agreement actually gives the state, and the taxpayers, more control over how the Turnpike is operated.
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Read More: PA Turnpike Concession: Gaining control, not losing ItHealth Care
The New Big Dig
Wall Street Journal on the pitfalls of RomneyCare. Topics on this page Massachusetts health care reform…
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Read More: The New Big Dig
Turnpike Commission stalling on I-80 tolling application
While Governor Rendell wanted to get a revised application for tolling I-80 to the feds by the end of the week, so he could ask for an expedited answer and…
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Read More: Turnpike Commission stalling on I-80 tolling application
Lease the Turnpike? A real no-brainer
Pennsylvania lawmakers have the unique opportunity to allow taxpayers to earn interest rather than pay it. On May 19, Gov. Ed Rendell announced that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania could receive…
Commentary
Read More: Lease the Turnpike? A real no-brainerTaxes & Economy
Money discriminates against blind people
A federal court ruled that paper money discriminates against blind people, since they can’t tell how much the money is worth. Note to Paulistas: This is because the blind…
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Read More: Money discriminates against blind peopleRegulation
No Extra Money in the Fund
"There is no extra money in the fund" for a pension Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA). That’s the analysis from the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS), not the Commonwealth Foundation…
Commentary
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Turnpike Lease Resources
Turnpike Lease/Bid OverviewFull Concession AgreementSynopsis of Lease Requirements/LimitsConcerns About Turnpike Lease Misguided…
Press Release
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Pennsylvania Turnpike Lease Info and Resources
Turnpike Lease/BidOverviewFull Concession AgreementSynopsis of Lease Requirements/LimitsConcerns About Turnpike Lease MisguidedTurnpike Commission implicit “bid”: $5.3 billionP3 Information…
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Read More: Pennsylvania Turnpike Lease Info and Resources
Turnpike Lease News Roundup
There are plenty of news articles on the Turnpike lease deal/bid, offering a number of legislative leaders and local lawmakers’ takes (articles quoting the Commonwealth Foundation listed first):…
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Read More: Turnpike Lease News RoundupTaxes & Economy
Freedom from Government Day
The American Institute for Economic Research has calculated that today, May 19, is the date at which Americans have earned enough income to pay for all governing spending. They…
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Read More: Freedom from Government Day
Turnpike Lease Details
Details from the Governor’s announcement on the winning bid for a Turnpike lease. The complete concession agreement (686 pages) is here. Top Bid: $12.8 Billion Winning Bidder: Abertis/Citi Infrastructure…
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Read More: Turnpike Lease Details
Medicaid Money Laundering
Wall Street Journal reviews how states are taking advantage of the Medicaid system to get more money from the federal government (i.e. ripping off taxpayers). Here is a…
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Read More: Medicaid Money LaunderingGovernment Accountability
Pa. lawmakers fill up at your expense
Philadelphia Inquirer article covers the price of lawmakers buying gas at taxpayer expense. There is also a list of who drives taxpayer subsidized, non-hybrid SUVs (i.e. gas guzzlers).
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Read More: Pa. lawmakers fill up at your expenseEducation
NEA on the Presidential Candidates
The National Education Association put out their candidate guide, giving both the candidates’ positions and the NEA’s positions on power grabs for union leaders education issues. Here is the…
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Read More: NEA on the Presidential Candidates