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.”
The Disaster that Is Dirigo
Michael Cannon on the failures and unintended consequences of Maine’s universal health care program, Dirigo. Topics on this page Maine…
Media
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State legislators getting specific about government reform
Brad Bumsted on proposals to reduce wasteful spending with the legislature, as well as other reforms. Noted is Sen. Jane Orie’s proposal which would limit “pinstripe patronage” – the…
Media
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The climb to high taxes
Morning Call story examines the growth of state and local taxes in Pennsylvania. The story uses both data on the rising state and local tax burden and individual…
Media
Read More: The climb to high taxes
Top 5 Reasons to Lease the Turnpike
Matt Brouillette featured in this week’s Central Penn Business Journal talking about a Turnpike lease. Also read Geoff Segal’s letter in the same edition. Topics on this…
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Read More: Top 5 Reasons to Lease the Turnpike
Tax-shift votes likely to divide communities
Patriot News on the potential winners and losers tax-shift referendum vote on May 15. Read our Taxpayers’ Guide to the Rendell Property Tax Relief Act of 2006 for…
Media
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A call to rein in state spending
Tribune-Review article on Thursday’s hearing on state spending limits. The Commonwealth Foundation’s newest fellow (and former Congresswoman) Melissa Hart testified: “Often elected officials have been unwilling or simply unable…
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Now you can start working for yourself
CBS 21 on Tax Freedom Day for Pennsylvania. Topics on this page PennsylvaniaTax Freedom Day…
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Happy Tax Freedom Day, Pennsylvania!
April 27, 2007 won’t appear as a holiday on anyone’s calendar. Few workers will get the day off. But it will be the first day Pennsylvania’s workers stop working to…
Commentary
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Video from Health Care Reform Luncheon
Video from yesterday’s Policies and Principles Luncheon on health care reform, featuring Michael Cannon of the Cato Institute is now available online. You can also get more audio and…
Media
Read More: Video from Health Care Reform Luncheon
Energy Myths
Max Schulz offers a series of energy “myths” that are driving flawed public policy – appropriate given a press conference later today will discuss Gov. Rendell’s energy plan. MYTH…
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Is “Fair Share Tax” dead?
Times Tribune article suggests there is no support in the General Assembly for a payroll tax on businesses to pay for “Cover All Pennsylvanians”. The administration suggested (as they…
Media
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‘Prescription for Pa.’ blasted for overregulation
Lancaster New Era with coverage of Michael Cannon’s take on RendellCare. Video of Cannon’s presentation today at the Commonwealth Foundation will be available on our website soon Topics…
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Toast to progress
Post-Gazette editorial on the need to privatize state-run liquor stores. Topics on this page Pittsburgh Post-Gazette…
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Most school districts to limit tax increases
Martha Raffaele on the tax increases for school districts, noting most will be “limiting” increases within the index. The index allows districts to increase taxes by 3.4 to 5.5…
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Some People Probably Shouldn’t Have Health Insurance
Michael Cannon blogs on why health care, not health insurance, is a priority at Cato-at-liberty. Cannon will be taking on the rhetoric of health care reform and offerign free-market…
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Rebutal to Keystone Rebutal
The union-backed Keystone Research Center issued a reply to my income vs wage commentary on their blog. I will add a couple more thoughts: Jobs:The job growth…
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Anti-oil Demagoguery
In a news release, Governor Rendell Calls on Bush Administration to Investigate Exorbitant Gas Prices. Governor Rendell is simply using demagoguery about the “profiteering oil companies” to justify his…
Media
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Turnpike Xenophobia?
From Capitolwire (subscription): Will opponents dub turnpike-leasing plan “Dubai, Chapter II?” Some political analysts believe they have found the silver bullet to kill off Gov. Ed Rendell’s proposed turnpike-leasing…
Media
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State budget battle looms
Brad Bumsted in the Tribune-Review on the upcoming budget battle. Bumsted also touches on yesterday’s hearing on privatizing the state liquor stores (see related post here): On…
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Read More: State budget battle looms
Privatize liquor sales
Patriot News coverage of yesterday’s hearing on privatizion of the state stores. Read our News Release on the hearing and get the full testimony of Reason Foundation experts…
Media
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Eliminate the turnpike commission
Sen. Jane Orie in the Post-Gazette on the waste in the Turnpike Commission and why it would be more efficient to run the turnpike – or oversee a lease…
Media
Read More: Eliminate the turnpike commission