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.”
Taxes & Economy
Business Climate Attitudes Remain Low
The Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research released its Fall 2006 Business Climate Survey, a survey of business owners and managers. Overall, attitudes about the PA business climate remain…
Media
Read More: Business Climate Attitudes Remain LowGovernment Accountability
A Tale of Two GOPs
Wall Street Journal editorial points out that Republicans are in strong shape in places where they stuck to the conservative principles they campaigned on (Florida) and are in deep…
Media
Read More: A Tale of Two GOPsTaxes & Economy
EDITORIAL | Begging the question
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review editorializes on the need to pursue REAL solutions to the transportation crisis. Unfortunately, “The Transportation Funding and Reform Commission should be named “The Beggar’s Opera” with…
Media
Read More: EDITORIAL | Begging the questionState Budget
Analysis: With election nearing, Rendell spreads state cash around
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette highlights the amount of taxpayer cash Rendell is spreading around Allegheny County for “Political Development” under the guise of “economic development.” Topics on this page…
Media
Read More: Analysis: With election nearing, Rendell spreads state cash aroundRegulation
A $2-Trillion Fiscal Hole
Wall Street Journal article estimates the unfunded liabilities of state and local government’s retiree health care plans to be $1.4 trillion, about double the unfunded pension liabilities of $700…
Media
Read More: A $2-Trillion Fiscal HoleHealth Care
Poor prescription for health care in Pennsylvania
Lancaster Intelligencer Journal article on “Cover All Kids.”…
Media
Read More: Poor prescription for health care in PennsylvaniaHealth Care
Health plan targets children
Lancaster Democrat Mike Sturla is pushing HillaryCareLite (“Cover All Kids”) in his district. Unfortunately, his Republican challenger doesn’t fully get it either. He said: “You are talking about pure…
Media
Read More: Health plan targets childrenHealth Care
Is ‘All Kids’ Health Coverage Going To Pass?
Coverage of yesterday’s Policy and Principles lunch and discussion on “Cover all Kids” in The Evening Bulletin.
Media
Read More: Is ‘All Kids’ Health Coverage Going To Pass?Regulation
Taxpayers burdened by legislative greed in pension decisions
Daily Review Editorial on the Looming Crisis in state pension plans.
Media
Read More: Taxpayers burdened by legislative greed in pension decisionsPublic Union Democracy
Teacher strikes: Unions mask cowardice with bully tactics
Simon Campbell, of Stop Teacher Strikes, Inc. editorial in the Bucks County Courier Times Topics on this page Bucks County Courier Times…
Media
Read More: Teacher strikes: Unions mask cowardice with bully tacticsTaxes & Economy
The Myth of Ethanol
Consumer Reports’ article finds that government mandates to use ethanol and new E85 cars – intended to create “energy independence” – has instead increased consumption of gasoline. The main…
Media
Read More: The Myth of Ethanol
Why Are Health Costs Rising?
NCPA Analysis on why health care cost have been escalating. The primary conclusion – third party payers drive up cost. However, when consumers of health care pay the bills…
Media
Read More: Why Are Health Costs Rising?Health Care
Public Health Insurance in Canada Financially Unsustainable
Canada’s model of government paid health care is unstainable, according to a Fraser Institute Report. Topics on this page Canada…
Media
Read More: Public Health Insurance in Canada Financially UnsustainableTaxes & Economy
Swann Tax Cuts
A report from the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center on the revenue losses from Lynn Swann’s proposed tax cuts would seem to cast doubt on our projections. There…
Media
Read More: Swann Tax CutsRegulation
Hershey changes pensions to cut costs
While the Hershey Company continues to make defined-benefit pension reforms to remain competitive, we’ve got a union-backed group in Harrisburg lobbying for HIGHER defined-benefit pension costs on taxapyers.
Media
Read More: Hershey changes pensions to cut costsRegulation
EDITORIAL | Taxpayers lose in Pa. pension gamble
We hate to have to say “We told you so.” So we won’t. But we’ll let the Chambersburg Public Opinion do it. 🙂 “The stock market was strong back…
Media
Read More: EDITORIAL | Taxpayers lose in Pa. pension gambleRegulation
Getting mileage out of perks
Brad Bumsted and Debra Erdley in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on the excesses in PA House perks. Turns out that Mike Veon, Democratic Whip from Beaver Falls, collects more in…
Media
Read More: Getting mileage out of perksHealth Care
Uncovering Cover All Kids
This past summer, state legislative leaders sent Governor Rendell a letter promising legislation by October authorizing the Governor’s “Cover All Kids” initiative. They included over $2 million in the state…
Commentary
Read More: Uncovering Cover All KidsTaxes & Economy
Anti-pollution measures in for legislative battle
Alison Hawkes article on the battle over mercury and auto emissions standards. DEP plans to set higher standards than the federal requirement. While many legislators have objected, DEP’s decision…
Media
Read More: Anti-pollution measures in for legislative battleRegulation
Pension Reform
Taxpayer contributions to Pennsylvania state and school employee’s retirement plans are expected to escalate dramatically beginning in 2011-12. Retiree healthcare will also place enormous burdens on future taxpayers. Specific actions…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pension ReformTaxes & Economy
Tax Cuts Helped the Poor
Waterbury Connecticut Republican-American editorial on the benefits of federal tax cuts on all income levels. It’s a point worth repeating, since those tax rates will go up if not…
Media
Read More: Tax Cuts Helped the Poor