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 Budget
Has the Wolf Administration Cured Pennsylvania’s Budget Ills?
Secretary of the Budget Randy Albright gave a surprisingly upbeat mid-year budget briefing yesterday. According to the state’s budget office, Pennsylvania’s structural deficit is virtually gone. Yet, reason…
Media
Read More: Has the Wolf Administration Cured Pennsylvania’s Budget Ills?Health Care
Obamacare Exchanges Continue To Dissapoint
Open enrollment for Obamacare exchange plans ends on December 15. It is convenient to blame the new administration and efforts to repeal the law for dwindling choices, disappointing enrollment, and…
Media
Read More: Obamacare Exchanges Continue To DissapointPublic Union Democracy
SB 166 Falls Short in the House
Last night, Pennsylvania’s government union leaders preserved their exclusive political privilege. By a close vote of 90-102, the state House voted down SB 166 which would have prohibited…
Media
Read More: SB 166 Falls Short in the House
Lawmakers Approve State Spending Limits
On Monday the state House passed HB 110—one of the most significant changes in how Harrisburg spends your tax dollars. HB 110, also known as the Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA), would…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Approve State Spending Limits
House Stands for Fiscal Sanity, Passes Responsible Spending Limits
For decades, state government has spent far beyond its means, leading to risky borrowing schemes and tax hikes on working families. But last night, the Pennsylvania House took a stand…
Press Release
Read More: House Stands for Fiscal Sanity, Passes Responsible Spending LimitsEducation
Impact of Education Savings Accounts Under SB 2
In Pennsylvania, tens of thousands of children are trapped in failing schools. While current programs such as tax credit scholarships and charter schools help, they cannot meet families’ demands for…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Impact of Education Savings Accounts Under SB 2State Budget
Moving Toward a Better Budget Process
Pennsylvania received a bit of good news from Fitch Ratings last week, as the agency affirmed the commonwealth’s credit rating. However, the state’s outlook remains negative. A downgrade is…
Media
Read More: Moving Toward a Better Budget ProcessGovernment Accountability
Overhauling Pennsylvania’s Budget Practices
Pennsylvania’s broken budget process hurts working Pennsylvanians. In the last two years, the state legislature passed spending packages, which Gov. Wolf allowed to become law without his signature, before authorizing…
Memo
Read More: Overhauling Pennsylvania’s Budget PracticesPublic Union Democracy
House Nears Vote to Protect Public Resources
This Monday, House lawmakers have a chance to vote for landmark ethics reform, Senate Bill 166 Passing this legislation – and sending it to the Senate and governor for approval…
Media
Read More: House Nears Vote to Protect Public ResourcesEducation
ESAs Offer a Path Forward for Erie Students
Erie students have been trapped in failing and violent schools for too long. While tax credit scholarships and charter schools help, families need more options. Education savings accounts…
Media
Read More: ESAs Offer a Path Forward for Erie StudentsEducation
Education Savings Accounts
Education savings accounts (ESAs) empower parents to customize their child's education. Administered by the state but controlled by the parents, ESAs can be used for multiple educational services. If enacted…
Commentary
Read More: Education Savings AccountsPublic Union Democracy
SB 166: Restoring Integrity to PA Government
Pennsylvania has a golden opportunity to enact good government reform, so it’s worth reiterating why SB 166, which House lawmakers continue to debate, deserves legislative approval and the governor’s…
Media
Read More: SB 166: Restoring Integrity to PA GovernmentPublic Union Democracy
It’s Time to Enact Paycheck Protection Once and For All
Here's the bottom line: Taxpayers shouldn't be the middleman for anyone's political agenda, which is why Pa. needs SB 166.
Commentary
Read More: It’s Time to Enact Paycheck Protection Once and For AllEducation
How to Combat Harrisburg School Violence
“I have been kicked, punched, hit, scratched. I've had a student physically restraining me in front of my other students…. And many of the personal things that I have bought for…
Media
Read More: How to Combat Harrisburg School ViolencePublic Union Democracy
Pennsylvania Needs Good Government Reform
Pennsylvanians deserve state and local government that enforces ethical standards across the board. Yet for years, a glaring exception has allowed government union leaders alone to use public resources to…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Needs Good Government ReformPublic Union Democracy
Four Reasons to Pass SB 166
A House committee passed SB 166 last month to end taxpayer-funded collection of campaign money. Here are four reasons this legislation should garner the full support of House members…
Media
Read More: Four Reasons to Pass SB 166Public Union Democracy
Paycheck Protection Toolkit
Currently, state and local governments, including school districts, use taxpayer-funded payroll systems and public employee time to collect union campaign contributions as well as union membership dues, a portion of…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Paycheck Protection ToolkitRegulation
Shocking Pensions a Reminder that we Need More Reform
The Philadelphia Inquirer recently published an article detailing the $100,000+ pension payouts for 500 retired state employees—a jarring reminder that Pennsylvania’s state retirement system…
Media
Read More: Shocking Pensions a Reminder that we Need More ReformTaxes & Economy
PA Taxpayers Are Moving to Almost Every Other State
Where are Pennsylvanians moving? Turns out, 44 states gained taxpayers from Pennsylvania last year. New data released yesterday by the IRS on state-to-state migration showed Pennsylvania gained residents moving from New…
Media
Read More: PA Taxpayers Are Moving to Almost Every Other StateState Budget
A Brief History of Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike Proposals
Since taking office, Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed or supported 10 tax hikes on working families. Lawmakers worked with Wolf to raise taxes in two of the past three years.
Memo
Read More: A Brief History of Tom Wolf’s Tax Hike ProposalsRegulation
Making PA Competitive Again
Lower post-recession unemployment & labor force participation rates are hopeful signs for a historically-weak economy, but without permanent policy changes, other states will continue to surpass Pennsylvania’s economic performance. At…
Media
Read More: Making PA Competitive Again