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.”
Did you Hear Oct-Nov
Standing up to Philadelphia union bosses is not for the faint of heart. Some might have been cowed into silence after becoming the target of union violence. Sarina Rose didn’t back…
Commentary
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Note from the Team Oct-Nov
If you’re shopping on Amazon, visit smile.amazon.com first and you can select Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives as your charitable organization beneficiary…
Commentary
Read More: Note from the Team Oct-Nov
Note from the Team Oct-Nov
If you’re shopping on Amazon, visit smile.amazon.com first and you can select Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives as your charitable organization beneficiary…
Commentary
Read More: Note from the Team Oct-NovRegulation
Abysmal Investment Returns for Pension Fund, Taxpayers on the Hook
In the past six years, Pennsylvania taxpayers’ unfunded pension liability has more than doubled from less than $30 billion to $63 billion. While the legislative debate over reform continues, Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: Abysmal Investment Returns for Pension Fund, Taxpayers on the HookEducation
Testimony: Role of Charter Schools in Education
Testimony
Read More: Testimony: Role of Charter Schools in EducationEducation
Are These 8 Pa. School Districts Piling Up Tax Dollars Like Lower Merion?
Are These 8 Pa. School Districts Piling Up Tax Dollars Like Lower Merion? Districts Stock Massive Reserve Funds While Seeking Tax Hikes October 12, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—A Montgomery County…
Press Release
Read More: Are These 8 Pa. School Districts Piling Up Tax Dollars Like Lower Merion?Education
Is Your District Hiking Taxes While Piling Up Large Reserves?
In June, CF published a searchable database showing fund balance data for each of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts as of 2015. Given the recent…
Media
Read More: Is Your District Hiking Taxes While Piling Up Large Reserves?Education
How Does Pennsylvania Stack up in School Revenue?
The National Center for Education Statistics recently released 2013-14 figures on revenues and expenditures for U.S. public schools. How does Pennsylvania stack up when it comes to funding? On a…
Media
Read More: How Does Pennsylvania Stack up in School Revenue?Regulation
Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: October 2016
Pennsylvania’s state budget is three months old and showing signs of a major budget deficit. Actual revenue collections are already behind $218.5 million through the first quarter, according to…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Deficit Watch: October 2016Criminal Justice Reform
Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Effort Gutted
North Philadelphian Carol Johnson* saved $2,000 from her pension checks by storing the money in an upstairs bedroom. One day, the 87 year old's savings vanished in a matter…
Media
Read More: Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Effort GuttedGovernment Accountability
Audio Blog: Expectations Exceed Reality with Pa. Pensions
In a recent interview with Stephanie Renee, host of WURD AM’s The Mojo, Nathan Benefield discussed the roots of Pennsylvania’s pension crisis and how to fix it. Pension debt has stacked up…
Media
Read More: Audio Blog: Expectations Exceed Reality with Pa. Pensions
Understanding America
All men are created equal. This simple idea—just five words—changes world history, according to Matthew Spalding, author of We Still Hold These Truths and Associate Vice President and Dean of Educational Programs for Hillsdale…
Commentary
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Podcast: Matthew Spalding
All men are created equal. This simple idea—just five words—changes world history, according to Matthew Spalding, author of We Still Hold These Truths and Associate Vice President and Dean of…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Matthew SpaldingPublic Union Democracy
Top Ten Recipients of Government Union Contributions
Election season is in full swing, but so is the fall legislative session. This time of year elected officials walk a narrow line to avoid the illegal practice of using…
Media
Read More: Top Ten Recipients of Government Union ContributionsGovernment Accountability
New Labor Contracts Will Add to Taxpayers’ Burden
New union contracts will make state government more expensive, according to two analyses released by the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO). The IFO projects contracts negotiated by the Wolf Administration…
Media
Read More: New Labor Contracts Will Add to Taxpayers’ BurdenRegulation
Fighting for Survival
Yesterday was an emotional day for many. Hundreds of people from Pennsylvania’s vaping community traveled to Harrisburg to save their livelihoods and their way of life. The rally to repeal…
Media
Read More: Fighting for SurvivalTaxes & Economy
House Committee Votes to Save Vape Shops
House Committee Votes to Save Vape Shops Bipartisan Vote Would Repeal 40-Percent Tax, Replace with Per-Milliliter Tax September 27, 2016, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, the House Finance Committee voted 19-4 to…
Press Release
Read More: House Committee Votes to Save Vape ShopsEducation
Pennsylvania’s Economy is Struggling
Americans finally got a raise! That's the gist of recent headlines hailing significant economic growth in 2015, but in Pennsylvania the economy is still struggling. From 1991 to 2015,…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Economy is StrugglingTaxes & Economy
Tax Sends Vape Shops Up in Smoke
Imagine you find a way to help others live healthier lives, and this passion leads you to invest your savings to start a related small business. Now, imagine state government…
Commentary
Read More: Tax Sends Vape Shops Up in SmokePublic Union Democracy
Wolf?s Union Agenda Loses Big in Court
David Smith and Donald Lambrecht were up against a powerful foe: Gov. Wolf and an executive order that granted a sweetheart deal to a union at their expense. In a…
Media
Read More: Wolf?s Union Agenda Loses Big in CourtEducation
Flawed Arguments Drive School Funding Suit
As I pointed out earlier this week, Pennsylvania public school spending is at an all-time high. In fact, the state's per student spending is significantly above the national average. James’ analysis…
Media
Read More: Flawed Arguments Drive School Funding Suit