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 workers have it good in Pennsylvania
Tony Phyrillas in the Pottstown Mercury. Topics on this page PennsylvaniaThe MercuryTony A. Phyrillas…
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Tax Shifts Considered
Both the Camp Hill School District and Cumberland Valley School District are considering shifting from property taxes to an income tax (PIT for Camp Hill and EIT for…
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Turnpike readies for battle over sale, lease
Patriot News story on how the Turnpike Commission is busy hiring lobbyists and PR representives to fight a potential turnpike lease – use of public money for lobbying and…
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State worker contract agreement reached
From the Central Penn Business Journal:The contract will increase employee health-care contributions from 1 percent to 3 percent [of salary] in the next four years. It includes pay…
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Lawmakers cash in on way out
Patriot News article on the thousands collected in “per-diems” by local retiring lawmakers; local being emphasized because (particularly in the case of former Senator Chip Brightbill, who collected $17,000…
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State’s with Worst Roads
AOL.com article on states with the worst roads – Pennsylvania ranks 2nd worst among the 50 states, ahead only of hurricane-ravaged Louisiana. Just another reason why we should…
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The Box is in at WHP
Sunday’s Patriot News coverage of THE BOX on WHP. Topics on this page The Patriot-News…
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Earmark Entertainment
Wall Street Journal article on how US Senate Democrats are opposing the earmark reform passed by House Democrats. Topics on this page United States…
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Cost of a Legislator
Someone called our office for this information, and I wrote his email down wrong, so I am posting in here, in case he sees it, and because it is ineresting…
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More on the Minimum Wage
NCPA Analysis points out that a national minimum wage affects some regions more than others – particularly when comparing Red States to Blue States. Specifically, principle supporters Nancy Pelosi…
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House Already Reforming Itself
The PA House Republicans spent much of the past week discussing how best to enact reform – and deciding their first step would be to create a new caucus…
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Minimum Wage vs. EITC
CBO analysis compares the effect of a minimum wage increase vs. an Earned Income Tax Credit Increase for the poor. They find that while most of the benefits of…
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Foie gras ban in Chicago is flouted
Chicago restuarants serve food in direct violation of a ban on foie gras. While I’ve been much for duck liver, this reassures me that no paternalistic big government will…
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Guide to Earmark Reform
Citizens Against Government Waste offers a guide to earmark reform – both the House plan and President Bush’s proposal fail to meet many of the key elements. Topics…
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The revenge of the failures
Bruce N. Shortt on how public agencies are trying to “help” homeschoolers by regulating them.
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Leasing the Turnpike
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorial on a turnpike lease: But there’s resistance in the Keystone State where many people think only the government should operate public infrastructure. Is that because it…
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CA to offer tax breaks for health insurance
Governor Schwarzenegger plans to make health coverage more affordable for Californians by making individually purchased plans tax free (the same way employer provide plans are taken from pre-tax income).
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Tax as you go.
Wall Street Journal piece on Nancy Pelosi’s “PayGo” plan, which would prevent tax cuts but wouldn’t restrain spending. Topics on this page Nancy PelosiThe…
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The Right Minimum Wage: $0
George Will in the Washington Post on why the nostalgia for New Deal era Big Government proposals – such as the minimum wage – are as bad an idea…
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Some big bills are coming due
Clarke Thomas in the Post-Gazette on the big bills (and potential tax increases to fund them) looming for state and local governments in transporation, employee pensions and health care,…
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Bush: Time for a New Course
With Democrats in control in Congress, President Bush has decided to practice fiscal conservatism. In a letter to the Wall Street Journal, he promises to keep spending in check…
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