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.”
Turnpike boss opposes proposed merger with PennDOT
Post Gazette story on PA Turnpike chief Joseph Brimmeier opposing Sen. Jane Orie’s plan to put the Turnpike under PennDOT control. This would shock no one. And while the…
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Commission on State Government Pay Proposed
Rep. Ron Marsico is proposing a commission to examine compensation of state officials. Now while proposing a commission doesn’t seem controversial, consider that in nearly two years since the…
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Would you be a winner?
Patriot News article on the May tax shifting referendum under Act 1. The shift to an income tax creates winners as loser, though the article identifies LLC firms as…
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Is RendellCare good medicine?
Three articles in the NE PA Business Journal on Governor Rendell’s health care proposals, all featuring the Commonwealth Foundation’s Rick Dreyfuss. Is Gov. Rendell’s ‘Prescription for Pennsylvania’ Good Medicine?:…
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Are we all “supply-siders” now?
I saw this Bruce Barltett editorial in the NY Times over the weekend. Bartlett makes the intriguing argument that politicians no longer need to claim to believe in “supply-side”…
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Passing the buck on Act 1 tax hikes
The Reading Eagle with more on using exemptions to avoid referendum on property tax hikes. A number of lawmakers are trying to defend the ineffective law they created: Rep.
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Congressmen get inferior health coverage
Morning Call article on former state lawmakers elected to Congress, but staying on the state health plan. Why? State lawmakers – even retired lawmakers – get better benefits and…
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Prospering In Pennsylvania
Are Pennsylvania’s workers worse off than they were three decades ago? A report prepared by the labor union-backed Keystone Research Center claims they are. Their data indicate that average real…
Commentary
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Pittsburgh 2nd in population loss
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on Census data showing that the Pittsburgh region ranks 2nd in the nation in total population loss from 2000-2006 (behind only the New Orleans region). Topics…
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210 districts can raise taxes without votes
Martha Raffaele of the AP reports that 210 school districts will be allowed to increase property taxesabove their index (which ranges from 3.4 to 5.5%, depending on the…
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Taxpayer Protection Act attacked
Following the announcement of legislation to create a Taxpayer Protection Act and the unveiling of a website with information on the legislation, the Allentown Morning Call has already…
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Penn Pike’s CEO Brimmeier charged with serious misbehavior by colleagues
Toll Roads News writes… Timothy Carson vice-chair of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission says thatthe Turnpike may have been a haven for patronage and boondoggles in the past but…
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PA GOP education plan
PA House GOP leader Sam Smith, along with a number of state representatives unveiled an alternate planto Governor Rendell’s education budget proposals – get the Patriot News story here…
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More Turnpike News
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on the draw of investors to a Turnpike lease. They also heavily quote Turnpike Commission vice chairman Tim Carson (who they also identify as a bond lawyer,…
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Push for private transportation deals
Coverage of Governor Rendell’s press conference pushing for public-private partnerships and a Turnpike Lease in transportation in the Post-Gazette. Also speaking for P3s were US Secretary of Transportation Mary…
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PA Tax Burden Up Again
The Tax Foundation’s latest data on state and local tax burdens was released today I have been citing their data (to the consternation of the pro-government spending advocates) in…
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The Health Care Debate
The Times Tribune offers contrasting articles on universal health care proposals in PA and elsewhere and on consumer-driven health care. Topics on this page Health…
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Pike lease idea gets mileage in Legislature
Charlie Thompson writes in the Patriot News that legislators are starting to put some thought into the potential of a Turnpike lease. The Commonwealth Foundation has a number of…
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Scrutiny of the bounty in Harrisburg
John Micek of The Morning Call on the use of taxpayer funds for inauguration parties. Topics on this page HarrisburgJohn Micek…
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Former Lt. Governor Bill Scranton Joins Commonwealth Foundation Board of Directors
HARRISBURG—Today, the Commonwealth Foundation—Pennsylvania’s free-market public policy think tank—announced the election of former Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Bill Scranton to its Board of Directors. “We asked Bill Scranton to join our…
Press Release
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Politics of Turnpike Lease
Stateline.org article dealing with public opinion and organized special interest opposition to leasing toll roads.
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