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.”
Protecting government agencies
Today state House Democratic lawmakers unveil legislation to protect taxpayers government agencies and workers unions. Among the legislation they propose would be to “require any employee terminated due to…
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Fumo wants to expand Turnpike Commission
To the suprise of no oneVince Fumo has supported the plan of the Turnpike Commission to expand their authority – raising tolls, taking over (and tolling) I-80, and issuing…
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Government’s Hedge Funds
Capitolwire.com’s Pete DeCoursey (subscription) calls Governor Rendell’s corporate welfare proposals for what they are – a hedge fund. Talking about Rendell’s proposed Jonas Salk Legacy Fund and alternative energy…
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Morning Call columnist on LCB privatization
Paul Carpenter writes about the privatization of Pennsylvania’s booze business. Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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Holding taxpayers hostage over mass transit
House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans plans to force a shutdown of state government if Harrisburg doesn’t give mass transit an ATM card to taxpayers’ bank account. He wants a dedicated…
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Public schools hate competition
There’s a great bumper sticker that says, “Don’t Steal. The Government Hates Competition.” The public schools are no different. They hate competition too, and that’s why they want to reduce…
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School District Consolidation Report
The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) issued their report on the fiscal benefits of consolidating school districts. Their findings were that districts with 2,500 to 3,000 spend somewhat…
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Supreme Court Affirms 1st Amendment Rights of Teachers
The US Supreme Court ruled today that states could require unions to get their members consent to use their dues for political purposes. Previously, a lower court had ruled that…
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Ideas to Improve Pennsylvania’s Fiscal and Economic Health
:: Fat Facts of the Week :: Taxpayer-funded handouts to major corporations are just one reason why state government spending is so obese. Consider just four examples of corporate welfare:…
Commentary
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Lancaster New Era endorses Taxpayer Protection Act
Lancaster New Era (registration required) editorial supporting the Taxpayer Protection Act, along with the Commonwealth Foundation’s Diet Plan.
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Somewhat slimmer budget passes Senate Appropriations
Senate Appropriations Committee sent to the floor an amended budget which includes very few of the Governor’s new programs, cuts some of the corporate welfare from DCED, and promised…
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Super-majority on tax increase legislation proposed
Senator Eichelberger (along with co-sponsors) today introduced legislation (SB 975) which would offer a Constitutional Amendment requiring a two-thirds vote in both chambers to pass any tax increase. This…
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Count the Costs of Pre-K Counts
Academic and financial costs of taxpayer-funded preschool questioned, alternatives proposed at news conference HARRISBURG, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation joined with a coalition of organizations to call on lawmakers…
Press Release
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Taxpayer-Funded, Universal Preschool in Pennsylvania: Benefits Questioned
The push toward taxpayer-funded preschool for every child in Pennsylvania continues with Governor Rendell’s budget proposal for the 2007-08 fiscal year. The Governor wants $75 million for “Pre-K Counts,” which…
Fact Sheet
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Taxpayer-Funded Preschool: Count the Costs
Governor Ed Rendell’s budget proposal for the 2007-08 fiscal year includes $75 million for “Pre-K Counts”—a taxpayer-funded program which would provide grants to school districts, Head Start programs, and government-approved…
Fact Sheet
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Rendell shares Turnpike bid info with legislative leaders
Governor Rendell announced he has provided the expressions of interest regarding a potential Turnpike lease to legislative leaders, on the grounds they not be made public until a lease…
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Healthcare For PA Families
House Republicans unveiled the outlines of a alternative health care reform plan, which they are calling the “Real Prescription for Pennsylvania” (their website name, Healthcare For PA Families, is…
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When a spending increase is a spending decrease
Watch the video and more at PADietPlan.com…
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DeWeese Ends Bonuses
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that House Dem. Leader Bill DeWeese will end bonuses to staffers following scrutiny of past bonuses. In related news Rep. Glen Grell is proposing cuts…
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Turnpike Commission’s proposal gains support
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that the proposal of the Turnpike Commission to raise tolls, enact special “congestion tolls,” take control of and toll I-80, and issue debt (tied to…
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New rules force tally of retiree health costs
Post-Gazette story on new accounting rules requiring governments to report how much they owe for health care costs of retirees, with comments by CF senior fellow Rick Dreyfuss.
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