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.”
State Budget
A Closer Look at Stadium Subsidies
The American magazine has an exposé on sport stadium subsidies, by Dennis Coates, reaching the conclusion that they do not result in broad economic growth: My own research,…
Media
Read More: A Closer Look at Stadium SubsidiesTaxes & Economy
Rendell: “Let me spend your money, or face ‘total meltdown'”
Ed Rendell is up to his old demogoguery on his energy proposal. This time he claims he will reduce everyone’s energy costs, and there will be a or ‘total…
Media
Read More: Rendell: “Let me spend your money, or face ‘total meltdown'”
First Turnpike Bid Is In! Only $5.3 Billion
PA Turnpike Commission plan will provide only $450 million per year for state’s roads, highways, bridges, and mass transit HARRISBURG, PA — As Gov. Rendell and the General Assembly await…
Press Release
Read More: First Turnpike Bid Is In! Only $5.3 BillionHealth Care
Medicaid Reform: Mending the Holes in Pennsylvanias Health Care Safety Net
Politicians and school officials frequently point to student performance on state tests as a primary measure of the quality of public education. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the…
Report
Read More: Medicaid Reform: Mending the Holes in Pennsylvanias Health Care Safety NetHealth Care
Health Care Reform (the right kind) in the states
Georgia enacted a few of the health care reforms we have been touting. From the SPN Blog: Georgia eliminates a major tax inequity by allowing individuals to…
Media
Read More: Health Care Reform (the right kind) in the statesPublic Union Democracy
In Defense of RINO Hunting
Pat Toomey lowers the hammer in the Wall Street Journal on the Republican establishment-types, who just want to win elections, regardless of policy, vision, or principles (note: this is…
Media
Read More: In Defense of RINO Hunting
SmartTalk on PA Turnpike Lease
Here is the video of Matt Brouillette’s appearance on last week’s Smart Talk Program on WITF discussing a lease of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Topics on this…
Media
Read More: SmartTalk on PA Turnpike LeaseRegulation
Leasing HBG Parking Garages
Patriot News reports on the Harrisburg Parking Authority’s 3-2 vote last night to contract with a private company to lease nine city parking garages, two public lots and 1,200…
Media
Read More: Leasing HBG Parking GaragesTaxes & Economy
Watch Our Award Winning Video
The Commonwealth Foundation’s video Frontlines of Liberty won a 2008 Telly Award. GK Visual gets the credit for producing the video (along with all our videos) but…
Media
Read More: Watch Our Award Winning VideoTaxes & Economy
South Carolina vs. PA
The Club For Growth has been keeping track of news on potential VP candidates, and this post on SC Mark Sanford stood out. Again, not because John McCain won’t…
Media
Read More: South Carolina vs. PAEducation
The Price is Wrong
Education Next story shows how little the general public knows about school spending. For instance, survey respondents were asked to estimate how much their school district spends, per pupil.
Media
Read More: The Price is WrongTaxes & Economy
Big Farm whips Big Oil
Great editorial on how “Big Farm” companies dominate “Big Oil” as a special interest, having both “record profits” and government subsidies for ethanol in the wake of a global…
Media
Read More: Big Farm whips Big OilTaxes & Economy
Does Marriage Matter?
As the PA Senate is expected to vote on the Marriage Protection Amendment today, I’d thought I’d remind readers that we discussed this proposal with both supporters and opponents…
Media
Read More: Does Marriage Matter?Health Care
Savings from McCain’s Health Care Tax Credit
With the re-release of John McCain’s health care plan came a lot of criticism (along with praise) over who benefits from his tax credit. McCain would offer…
Media
Read More: Savings from McCain’s Health Care Tax CreditRegulation
Harrisburg mayor proposing outsourcing parking
Patriot News reports that Harrisburg mayor Stephen Reed proposing leasing operations of the city’s parking garages and meters to private operators. The deal would fetch $215 million for a…
Media
Read More: Harrisburg mayor proposing outsourcing parking
Bonanza from lease of turnpike not so big?
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story on the expected bids to lease the Turnpike. What’s interesting is that even with the downturn of the market, a Public-Private Partnership on the Turnpike…
Media
Read More: Bonanza from lease of turnpike not so big?Education
Happy Birthday EITC
Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit turns 7 this month; there is a birthday party at the Capitol beginning at noon today (I believe free cake is involved). For more…
Media
Read More: Happy Birthday EITCGovernment Accountability
NTU calls for Spending Transparency in PA
The National Taxpayers Unions has sent a letter encouraging passage of a spending transparency website. The legislation, SB 1350, was introduced by Sen. Browne in April. For more…
Media
Read More: NTU calls for Spending Transparency in PATaxes & Economy
Is the US in a recession?
Tony Phyrillas writes that the U.S. is not in a recession. John Micek jokes about Phyrillas swallowing Bush’s rhetoric. Of course Tony has the evidence, whereas John is,…
Media
Read More: Is the US in a recession?Public Union Democracy
Endorsing Obama = End of Corruption
Wall Street Journal article on Barack Obama’s support for reducing oversight of the Teamsters. Says Obama, “organized crime influence in the union has drastically declined.” (HT Amanda Carpenter).
Media
Read More: Endorsing Obama = End of CorruptionRegulation
Pension COLA has hefty price tag
Charles Thompson has a story in the Patriot News about the high cost to taxpayers of the propose pension COLA. The Tribune Review also had an article last…
Media
Read More: Pension COLA has hefty price tag