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.”
Jubelirer’s ex-chief got $95,000 settlement package
More on the bonuses (and severance pay) paid to top legislator staffers from Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. It seems that looking through Jubelirer’s financial reports is like…
Media
Read More: Jubelirer’s ex-chief got $95,000 settlement packageTaxes & Economy
Act 1: Who Wins, Who Loses?
Commonwealth Foundation provides guide to Gov. Rendell’s Property Tax Relief Act Harrisburg, PA — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released an analysis of the impact Act 1 of the 2006 Special…
Press Release
Read More: Act 1: Who Wins, Who Loses?Taxes & Economy
Taxpayers Guide to the Rendell Property Tax Relief Act of 2006
For more than three decades, Pennsylvania policymakers have repeatedly attempted to devise a mechanism to reduce school district property taxes on homeowners. Such a mechanism has been elusive. A number…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Taxpayers Guide to the Rendell Property Tax Relief Act of 2006State Budget
State Government Spending
Over the last several decades, the growth in state government spending has exceeded both the rate of inflation and increases in the income of citizens. Unlimited government spending growth has…
Fact Sheet
Read More: State Government Spending
Senate leaders disclosed over $363K in bonuses
After last weeks disclosure that several unnamed PA Democratic House staffers were getting taxpayer-paid bonuses for undisclosed activities, the Senate GOP had decided to end their practice of bonuses…
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Read More: Senate leaders disclosed over $363K in bonuses
How Much Are Public School Teachers Paid?
A report from the Manhattan Institute examines teacher pay across the nation, taking on the common claim that teachers are underpaid. Generally, author Jay Greene finds that teachers earn…
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Read More: How Much Are Public School Teachers Paid?
Patriot News on Taxpayer Protection Act
The Patriot News has a short story on the Taxpayer Protection Act in their Inside the Capitol segment, unfortunately leading with “A proposed cap on state spending didn’t…
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Read More: Patriot News on Taxpayer Protection Act
Bush’s Health Plan
NCPA policy briefs on the Bush Health Plan and answering the Critics of the Bush Plan.
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Read More: Bush’s Health PlanTaxes & Economy
Protecting the Taxpayers
Proposals will help Gov. Rendell make government live within its means HARRISBURG, PA — The Commonwealth Foundation joined Senator Bob Regola (R-Westmoreland), Senator Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon), and other members of…
Press Release
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Proposal would cap state spending
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article on the proposed Taxpayer Protection Act. Note that the union-backed Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center is already advancing the myths of spending limits. Look for…
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Milton Friedman Special
In honor of Milton Friedman Day PBS station will be airing the special The Power of Choice on Friedman’s life and influence. Unfortunately the blasphemers at WITF Harrisburg…
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Read More: Milton Friedman Special
Ethanol Makes Gasoline Costlier, Dirtier
Analysis of the effect of ethanol subsidies and mandates from the Cato Institute. Topics on this page Cato Institute…
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Read More: Ethanol Makes Gasoline Costlier, Dirtier
Push to privatize turnpike reflects shift in thinking
Post-Gazette article on a potential turnpike lease. Geoff Segal of the Reason Foundation and adjunct scholar with Commonwealth Foundation (incorrectly identified with Reason magazine) scoffs at the fear of…
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Read More: Push to privatize turnpike reflects shift in thinkingHealth Care
The Pension and Healthcare Non-Crisis
Despite the well-documented unfunded liabilities in Pennsylvania’s largest public employee pension plans (PSERS and SERS), the response from Harrisburg to the coming fiscal crisis ranges from denial to paralysis. Following…
Commentary
Read More: The Pension and Healthcare Non-Crisis
Very, Very Big Corn
Wall Street Journal article on the mistakes of more ethanol subsidies by federal and state government.
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PHEAA’s “knockwursts” to continue…
The Patriot-News reports that the legislator-laden board of PHEAA will likely continue its junkets…but call them something else. But as reported in the story…. Matt Brouillette, president of…
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Read More: PHEAA’s “knockwursts” to continue…
Union Membership Declines Again
BLS Annual Report on Union Membership finds that union membership in PA and in the US declined again last year. Whatever will Bill George do? Topics on…
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Read More: Union Membership Declines Again
Liquor board did high-end traveling
Philadelphia Inquirer story on the luxury of being a public servant. Topics on this page The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC…
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Read More: Liquor board did high-end traveling
Dissecting Rendell’s ‘Eddycare’
Jim Panyard Editorial in The Evening Bulletin. Topics on this page Philadelphia Bulletin…
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Ethanol-based fuel skewed by subsidies
Former CF Intern Stephen Albert in today’s Patriot News. Topics on this page Stephen AlbertThe Patriot-News…
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Read More: Ethanol-based fuel skewed by subsidies
Few districts make tax-hike vow
The Morning Call reports on how the overwhelming majority of school districts will likely be raising taxes above the already generous spending index included in Act 1 of 2006.
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Read More: Few districts make tax-hike vow