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
Budget Deal Autopsy: The Good, the Bad, the Uglyand A Fistful of Unspent Dollars
HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation offered a brief analysis (with apologies to Clint Eastwood) of the tentative Pennsylvania General Fund budget deal that is currently being finalized in…
Press Release
Read More: Budget Deal Autopsy: The Good, the Bad, the Uglyand A Fistful of Unspent Dollars
Reader questions about budget
Questions from a PolicyBlog Reader: Q: What is this $1.6 billion dollar fund referenced in the Post-Gazette? It appears to be slots money which, I thought,…
Media
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Oh yeah – the budget is higher
The agreed-to budget figure Gov. Rendell reported last night was lower. From Pennsylvania Legislative Services: GOVERNOR ANSWERS QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIABy Kimberly CollinsThis afternoon the…
Media
Read More: Oh yeah – the budget is higher
Lame Duck, or Big Winner?
Tony Phyrillas celebrates Rendell’s losses in the budget deal – too bad that doesn’t do taxpayers any good. Phyrillas likes the “no new taxes” – but new taxes…
Media
Read More: Lame Duck, or Big Winner?
Economics of Smoking Bans
Some more resources on the economic impact of smoking bans, for legislators considering a smoking ban – see also our Policy Point on Smoking Bans: ECONOMIC LOSSES…
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Read More: Economics of Smoking Bans
Secondhand Smoke Facts
Some more resources on the scientific evidence of second hand smoke, for legislators considering a smoking ban – see also our Policy Point on Smoking Bans: Secondhand Smoke…
Media
Read More: Secondhand Smoke FactsRegulation
Smoking Bans
The effort to ban smoking in restaurants, bars, and private businesses is a product of bad science and worse economics.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Smoking Bans
Price of Candy is Up!
So I went to our office snack tray to buy an afternoon snack and notice that the price had gone up, and there was a note about the price of…
Media
Read More: Price of Candy is Up!
Budget PR from PHMC
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission uses it taxpayer provided resources to blame the PA Senate for trying to “cut” programs from the budget (with an $899 million increase). Which…
Media
Read More: Budget PR from PHMC
Budget Questions
Lingering questions/issues about the budget negotiations (with links to Commonwealth Foundation information on these issues): What will be the final percent increase in the General Fund? The Taxpayer Protection…
Media
Read More: Budget Questions
More Debt for Pork?
According to reports, the House Democrats are holding up the budget negotiations for more $500 million in new bonds for “Redevelopment Assistance Capital Projects.” What the heck are those, you…
Media
Read More: More Debt for Pork?Regulation
Gov. Ed Rendells Ransom
PA Governor holds state workers and public services hostage for higher taxes and fees, despite $650M tax surplus. HARRISBURG, PA – Nearly 25,000 state workers were furloughed and many public…
Press Release
Read More: Gov. Ed Rendells Ransom
A Letter To Ed
Letter from a soon-to-be furloughed state worker to Gov. Rendell, courtesy of PA Clean Sweep. Topics on this page Ed Rendell…
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Read More: A Letter To Ed
Tax Impact of SCHIP Expansion
Last week I pointed out that Governor Rendell’s call for increased federal funding of SCHIP was because by passing “Cover All Kids”, the General Assembly created a program which…
Media
Read More: Tax Impact of SCHIP Expansion
Public Schools Respond to School Choice
Post Gazette story on Regional Choice Initiative in Beaver County. This would allow students who want a particular class, not offered by their district, to enroll in that class…
Media
Read More: Public Schools Respond to School Choice
Pass it all NOW – Don’t think!
News release from the GovernorEditorial by the Post-Gazette calls for legislators to act on “reform” and pass a bunch of legislation in early July – unrelated to the budget…
Media
Read More: Pass it all NOW – Don’t think!
Some Definitions
“Ponzi scheme,” from Wikipedia Rendell Energy Plan, from the Governor’s office Note the striking similarities. Also read Jared Walczak’s commentary on Energy Depletion. Despite all of the…
Media
Read More: Some DefinitionsTaxes & Economy
Rushed Legislation is Usually Flawed Legislation
Commonwealth Foundation and Reason Foundation urge lawmakers to slow down on the transportation proposal MEMORANDUM TO: Members of the Pennsylvania State Senate, Members of the Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesFROM:…
Press Release
Read More: Rushed Legislation is Usually Flawed Legislation
More Rendell Rhetoric
Governor’s latest news release: “Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians are without health insurance, roads and bridges are crumbling, public transit services are being cut and medical research facilities…
Media
Read More: More Rendell Rhetoric
Gov: “Spend it All!”
Central Penn Business Journal on Governor Rendell’s press conference:. Rendell said he is particularly disturbed by comments Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Gibson Armstrong (R-Lancaster and York counties)…
Media
Read More: Gov: “Spend it All!”Taxes & Economy
Spending Diet Step #3: Stop Over-Taxing
Commonwealth Foundation calls on lawmakers to return the state’s $650 million surplus to taxpayers HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation called upon the General Assembly to return the state’s…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Spending Diet Step #3: Stop Over-Taxing