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
Tax Rebates Will Not Stimulate The Economy
Heritage Foundation commentary on why neither tax “rebates” nor “ecnomic stimulous” spending would result in economic growth. Critics contend that rebates “inject” new money into the economy, increasing…
Media
Read More: Tax Rebates Will Not Stimulate The EconomyTaxes & Economy
Turnpike lease and ‘foreign’ companies
The latest news that Senate President pro tem Joe Scanarti will be introducing a “hybrid” Turnpike lease plan (Tribune Review story), which appears to be different that Senator…
Media
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Study Supports Turnpike Lease
Commonwealth Foundation responds to PSU/Wayne State study HARRISBURG, PA — Today, in response to a study of traffic diversion due to toll increases on the Ohio Turnpike by authors…
Press Release
Read More: Study Supports Turnpike LeaseGovernment Accountability
Reform is not a Rendell priority
So says Tony Phyrillas, in response to Governor Rendell’s put-down of a special session on public integrity. Topics on this page Ed RendellTony…
Media
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The Ethanol Fallacy
Popular Mechanics on The Ethanol Fallacy: So what should the government do? First off: no harm. Instead of trying to mandate specific technologies—and risk locking us into…
Media
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Turnpike Lease Promising
Press Enterprise editorial on Senator Gordner’s Turnpike lease proposal: When looked at from an economic standpoint, it makes a lot of sense. Start with this…
Media
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Study on “Toll Road Privatization”
A study by researchers from Penn State and Wayne State makes the claim that toll road privatization will cause several negative impacts. However, they don’t actually study “toll road…
Media
Read More: Study on “Toll Road Privatization”Health Care
“Cover All Pennsylvanians” Covers Very Few
Governor Rendell’s proposed “Cover All Pennsylvanians” claims to provide health insurance for an Administration-estimated 800,000 currently uninsured Pennsylvania adults at a cost of $1 billion dollars in just four years.
Fact Sheet
Read More: “Cover All Pennsylvanians” Covers Very FewGovernment Accountability
Integrity in Government Special Session
The Commonwealth Foundation and nine other organizations have asked Governor Rendell to call a special session to deal with integrity in Goverment. Here is the info, courtesy Democracy Rising…
Media
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Positions available through Koch Associate Program
The Commonwealth Foundation is excited to be a part of the 2008-09 Koch Associate Program! We’re working with the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation to find candidates for a position…
Press Release
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Gordner testing the water with tolling repeal bill
State Senator John Gordner will be introducing a bill to repeal Act 44 (and I-80 tolling) that would also allow for a Turnpike PPP, The Standard-Journal reports. We have…
Media
Read More: Gordner testing the water with tolling repeal billGovernment Accountability
Fluid races could make Pa.’s late primary important
Peter Jackson commentary on the potential “influence” of the PA primary in April. While there has been a push to move the primary up in the calendar so that…
Media
Read More: Fluid races could make Pa.’s late primary importantTaxes & Economy
Why Calendars Matter
The latest story of Capitol Calendars bought at taxpayer expenses is a Tribune-Review article on Catherine Baker Knoll (as president of the Senate) getting her share. Other recent stories…
Media
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Cutting state income tax will result in job growth
Adapted version of Matt Brouillette’s testimony appears in today’s Allentown Morning Call…
Media
Read More: Cutting state income tax will result in job growthTaxes & Economy
More on cutting PA Taxes
Press Enterprise editorial on the proposal to cut the income tax in Pennsylvania: You won’t hear anything even remotely like it when Big Ed makes his annual…
Media
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Tax Cuts and the PA Economy
Altoona Mirror has a story on proposals to cut the Pennsylvania Personal Income Tax. I had a couple other comments that didn’t make it into the print edition, and…
Media
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Can the Jaguars save the NFL?
Then NFL has been going downhill ever since Vince McMahon took over as commissioner and cast the New England Patriots as heel, much like the Iron Sheik.
Media
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Benefits of Reducing the Personal Income Tax
Thank you Chairman Turzai, Rep. Quigley, and members of the House Republican Policy Committee for the invitation to share with you why the Commonwealth Foundation believes that reducing taxes…
Commentary
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The Taj Mahal Act
In 1973 a crack commando unit was sent to a military prison for a crime they didn’t commit, and Pennslyvania lawmakers passed a “Taj Mahal Act” (Act 34 of…
Media
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Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth
Allegheny Institute Policy Brief questions a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center promise to give $100 million over 10 years to the Pittsburgh Public Schools. Namely, why does the…
Media
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House GOP pushes for lower state income tax
Tony Phyrillas on today’s hearing regarding rolling back the state PIT to it’s pre-2004 level of 2.80%. Read Matt’s testimony here, or sign up for email updates…
Media
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