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.”
Nation’s Newest School Choice Program
Georgia enacted new legislation that would create a tax credit for donations to scholarship organizations. Much like Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit, the Georgia plan allows…
Media
Read More: Nation’s Newest School Choice Program
“Simple math” on turnpike lease
Williamsport SunGazette editorializes that the math should be easy on a Turnpike lease bid: use what the Turnpike Commission will give (i.e. our calculation) and the bid –…
Media
Read More: “Simple math” on turnpike leaseRegulation
More Outrage at Pension COLA
Tony Phyrillas has added to the number of voices noting that the proposed Pension COLA means higher property taxes. Topics on this page Tony…
Media
Read More: More Outrage at Pension COLA
Video: Choosing our Judges
Here is the video from yesterday’s luncheon on the subject of merit selection vs. election of Pennnylvania judges:…
Media
Read More: Video: Choosing our Judges
Long Waits for Health Care Are Costing Canadians Billions of Dollars
Here is a new article on the problems with “universal” health care in Canada from the latest Health Care News. Topics on this page Canada…
Media
Read More: Long Waits for Health Care Are Costing Canadians Billions of DollarsTaxes & Economy
Politicians and Economics
While a number of people say that many economic policy issues are “too complex” for the general public Thomas Sowell argues that for the most part these concepts –…
Media
Read More: Politicians and EconomicsGovernment Accountability
Cerberus Responds
Responding to my commentary today, Rep. Babbette Josephs – who I termed the Cerberus of the General Assembly – issued a news release defending her record, and…
Media
Read More: Cerberus RespondsRegulation
Big Business Loves Big Government
Michael G. Franc in NRO Online analyzes a seemingly suprising fundraising advantage by Democratic candidates among corporate CEOs – surprising given that Democrats continue to call for higher taxes,…
Media
Read More: Big Business Loves Big GovernmentGovernment Accountability
The Cerberus of the General Assembly
In Greek Mythology, the river Styx separates the earth from Hades. A giant three-headed dog named Cerberus guards the river, allowing the dead to enter Hades, but preventing anyone—save a…
Commentary
Read More: The Cerberus of the General AssemblyRegulation
Gaming Control Board screw-ups continue
A number of PA House Republicans are calling for PA AG Tom Corbett to investigate the Gaming Control Board (as if he didn’t already have enough government officials…
Media
Read More: Gaming Control Board screw-ups continueGovernment Accountability
Taxpayer bill in Bonusgate grows
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that legal fees in the Bonusgate scandal now top $1 million – $700,000 by House Democrats. Yes, that is taxpayer-funded lawyers to defend politicians…
Media
Read More: Taxpayer bill in Bonusgate growsEducation
The myths of cyber schools
A May 11 article on cyber schools in the Daily Local repeats claims that cyber schools are a major drain on taxpayers (though with a strong rebuttal…
Media
Read More: The myths of cyber schoolsTaxes & Economy
Who Gets Federal Energy Subsidies?
The Wall Street Journal has an article on who gets federal energy subsidies, based on a EIA report. The WSJ focuses most of the attention on electricity subsidies;…
Media
Read More: Who Gets Federal Energy Subsidies?
Turnpike lease “winning” bid to be announced next week
Governor Rendell held a press conference to announce the “winning bid” on the Pennsylvania Turnpike lease will likely be presented next Monday. Rendell also stated: Bids were within…
Media
Read More: Turnpike lease “winning” bid to be announced next weekTaxes & Economy
The Wall Street Bailout Enhancement Act
The Heritage Foundation’s Foundry blog summarizes the flaws of the federal mortgage bailout bill. The CNNMoney article linked to also provides a good synopsis of what the bill…
Media
Read More: The Wall Street Bailout Enhancement ActHealth Care
PA liability for state retiree health: $8.8 billion
The PA Office of the Budget released their actuarial report on retiree health care liabilities, revealing that the estimated unfunded liablity as of July 1, 2008 is $8.8 billion…
Media
Read More: PA liability for state retiree health: $8.8 billionHealth Care
Address the Cost of Health Care
Here is a letter to the editor I sent to the York Daily Record on health care reform: I am responding to a May 4 op-ed by Rep. Eugene…
Media
Read More: Address the Cost of Health CareTaxes & Economy
State Income Taxes and Economic Growth
The Cato Journal has an article looking at the effects of state taxes and economic growth. Their finding, which should not surprise our readers, is that high marginal…
Media
Read More: State Income Taxes and Economic GrowthRegulation
Smoke, Lies, and the Nanny State
Here is an interesting read on the science of smoking and smoking bans, with plenty of additional resources listed in the end, written by Joe Jackson (yes, that…
Media
Read More: Smoke, Lies, and the Nanny State
What bid? That’s ridiculous!
Apparently Turnpike Commission CEO Joe Brimmeier was surprised to learn from the Pittsuburgh Post-Gazette that he had submitted a bid on to operate the Turnpike. Well, it’s not a…
Media
Read More: What bid? That’s ridiculous!Education
Talking Cyber Schools
I discuss Cyber Schools on this week’s Lincoln Radio Journal with Lowman Henry of the Lincoln Institute. Our recent policy brief on cyber schools is here. I…
Media
Read More: Talking Cyber Schools