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.”
After Obamacare: Myths & Facts
Will people lose insurance? Will hospitals lose money? Are jobs going to be lost? The truth of Obamacare repeal is more optimistic. …
Commentary
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After Obamacare: Myths & Facts
Will people lose insurance? Will hospitals lose money? Are jobs going to be lost? The truth of Obamacare repeal is more optimistic. …
Commentary
Read More: After Obamacare: Myths & Facts
End Perks for the Politically Connected
Success is determined by who lobbies better, not by who makes the best product at an affordable price. The result? A few businesses “win” at their competitors’ expense, and taxpayers…
Commentary
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End Perks for the Politically Connected
Success is determined by who lobbies better, not by who makes the best product at an affordable price. The result? A few businesses “win” at their competitors’ expense, and taxpayers…
Commentary
Read More: End Perks for the Politically Connected
Time to End Special Interest Loophole
Because of a legal carveout for special interests, Pennsylvania has been mixing public resources and politics for years. But that carveout could soon end.
Commentary
Read More: Time to End Special Interest Loophole
Time to End Special Interest Loophole
Because of a legal carveout for special interests, Pennsylvania has been mixing public resources and politics for years. But that carveout could soon end.
Commentary
Read More: Time to End Special Interest Loophole
Choice is a Win for Students
In the aftermath of Betsy DeVos’s confirmation as Secretary of Education, opponents beleive the sky is falling on public education. DeVos is a well-known school choice advocate who believes in…
Commentary
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Choice is a Win for Students
In the aftermath of Betsy DeVos’s confirmation as Secretary of Education, opponents beleive the sky is falling on public education. DeVos is a well-known school choice advocate who believes in…
Commentary
Read More: Choice is a Win for Students
Double-Down on Reinventing Government
What's different about Wolf's third budget address? Record-setting income and sales tax increases? Gone. Partisan rhetoric? Mollified. Massive spending hikes? Absent. Instead, Wolf targeted bureaucratic waste to close the ever-widening…
Commentary
Read More: Double-Down on Reinventing Government
Double-Down on Reinventing Government
What's different about Wolf's third budget address? Record-setting income and sales tax increases? Gone. Partisan rhetoric? Mollified. Massive spending hikes? Absent. Instead, Wolf targeted bureaucratic waste to close the ever-widening…
Commentary
Read More: Double-Down on Reinventing Government
Did You Hear April-May
We applaud the House and Speaker Turzai for acting to give thousands more students access to educational options that best meet their unique needs. …
Commentary
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Did You Hear April-May
We applaud the House and Speaker Turzai for acting to give thousands more students access to educational options that best meet their unique needs. …
Commentary
Read More: Did You Hear April-May
Note from the Team April-May
The Commonwealth Foundation team is growing! …
Commentary
Read More: Note from the Team April-May
Note from the Team April-May
The Commonwealth Foundation team is growing! …
Commentary
Read More: Note from the Team April-MayRegulation
The Keystone State of Corporate Welfare
Pennsylvania’s corporate welfare culture is pervasive. The state has the dubious distinction of leading the nation in subsidy payments since 2007—without getting much in return. This large transfer of wealth…
Media
Read More: The Keystone State of Corporate WelfareState Budget
Adventures in State Budget Wonderland
In Lewis Carroll’s classic wonderland tale, Alice famously asks the Cheshire Cat, “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” the…
Media
Read More: Adventures in State Budget WonderlandHealth Care
A New Wave of Welfare Reform
Governors across the country are proposing game-changing welfare reforms and Pennsylvania should follow their example. Yesterday, Maine submitted a waiver to the federal government asking for permission…
Media
Read More: A New Wave of Welfare ReformRegulation
News Release: House Passes Significant Liquor Reform Bills
Yesterday, the House passed significant liquor reforms designed to end state government’s senseless stranglehold on the wine and liquor industry. Sponsored by House Speaker Mike Turzai, HB 975 builds…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: House Passes Significant Liquor Reform BillsTaxes & Economy
News Release: Senate Committee Advances Vape Tax Fix
Today, in the latest attempt to fix an onerous tax responsible for as many as 100 vape shop closures across the state, the Senate Finance Committee advanced SB…
Press Release
Read More: News Release: Senate Committee Advances Vape Tax FixGovernment Accountability
Senate Moves Key Transparency Measures
Today the Senate's State Government Committee advanced three bills to open up government collective bargaining negotiations to the public. SB 168, sponsored by Sen. Pat Stefano, would require all levels of government…
Media
Read More: Senate Moves Key Transparency MeasuresRegulation
Following Zippo’s Lead on Pensions
Zippo’s recent retirement plan transition is another example of why Pennsylvania state government should do the same. As Zippo CFO Don Hall said, defined contribution plans like 401(k)s carry…
Media
Read More: Following Zippo’s Lead on Pensions