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.”
Poll Finds Union Leaders Out of Touch
Today, teachers across Pennsylvania are forced to pay for union activities that many don’t support. To many, they feel manipulated by unions that don’t represent their interests or beliefs. The…
Media
Read More: Poll Finds Union Leaders Out of TouchEducation
Judge: District Exaggerated Shortfall, Improperly Raised Taxes
Lower Merion School District must revoke a portion of its most recent tax hike, according to a Montgomery County court. In his ruling, Judge Joseph A. Smyth said the…
Media
Read More: Judge: District Exaggerated Shortfall, Improperly Raised TaxesState Budget
Facing Likely Deficit, Lawmakers Should Reduce Spending
Fiscal responsibility is at a premium across the country, and Pennsylvania is no exception. In June, lawmakers passed a budget that increased spending by $1.6 billion. Weeks later, they passed…
Media
Read More: Facing Likely Deficit, Lawmakers Should Reduce SpendingEducation
Public Remains Supportive of School Choice
That’s the upshot of the 10th annual public opinion survey from Education Next, which covers a range of topics including school choice, school spending, personnel policy, testing, and accountability.
Media
Read More: Public Remains Supportive of School ChoiceEducation
Charter Reform: Get it Right
Over the next nine months, many students will have their lives transformed for the better. But for thousands of other children, this time of year is defined by disappointment. They are…
Commentary
Read More: Charter Reform: Get it RightEducation
Pittsburgh-Area Family Punished for Choosing Charter School
Fauna Shaffer Butera, mother of two young boys just miles to the northwest of Pittsburgh, opted to enroll her sons in Young Scholars Charter School. She was shocked to learn of the…
Media
Read More: Pittsburgh-Area Family Punished for Choosing Charter SchoolHealth Care
Obamacare is Failing, But States can Bring Hope
Obamacare is struggling for survival. Despite victories in the courts, state exchanges are in trouble, and Medicaid expansion has been more costly than expected—with no evidence of improved health outcomes.
Media
Read More: Obamacare is Failing, But States can Bring HopeTaxes & Economy
How Does Pennsylvania’s Tax Burden Compare?
Pennsylvania’s tax structure should benefit all Pennsylvanians, not just some. Unfortunately, our state’s stifling tax burden harms residents. Each year, government spending grows, increasing the pressure for higher taxes. These…
Fact Sheet
Read More: How Does Pennsylvania’s Tax Burden Compare?State Budget
Podcast: How Money Walks Out of Pennsylvania
Last year, nearly 42,000 Pennsylvanians left the state to pursue their dreams elsewhere—that's one person every 12 and a half minutes. Why is money walking out of Pennsylvania? That’s…
Media
Read More: Podcast: How Money Walks Out of PennsylvaniaTaxes & Economy
Welfare to Work Helped Reduce Poverty
Twenty years ago President Clinton signed a law creating Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), better known as sweeping welfare reform grounded in work requirements. In 1996, 531,000 adults and…
Media
Read More: Welfare to Work Helped Reduce PovertyRegulation
State Government is Killing My Business
In 2013, I opened my first business. I’d overcome many challenges and assumed some gut-wrenching risks to get there, but I did it—and I was proud. But less than three…
Commentary
Read More: State Government is Killing My BusinessEducation
Understanding Your School District?s Labor Contract
CF reviewed labor contracts in each of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts and uncovered several interesting findings. These contracts, known as collective bargaining agreements, are negotiated behind closed doors between…
Media
Read More: Understanding Your School District?s Labor ContractGovernment Accountability
School District Labor Contracts: Surprising Provisions
More than 1.7 million students rely on Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts to meet their diverse educational needs. School boards from each district agree to collective bargaining agreements (labor contracts) with local teachers’…
Memo
Read More: School District Labor Contracts: Surprising ProvisionsEducation
The Power of Educational Choice
The story of Malachi Kuhn is a moving example of how lives are changed by educational choice. Malachi’s education savings account (ESA) helped him to literally stand…
Media
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Trapped: 5 Ways Union Contracts Trample Teachers’ Rights
Trapped: 5 Ways Union Contracts Trample Teachers’ Rights Forced Unionism, Ghost Teachers Among Ways Contracts Exploit Teachers August 17, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—As students across Pennsylvania head back to…
Press Release
Read More: Trapped: 5 Ways Union Contracts Trample Teachers’ RightsState Budget
More Victims of Devastating New Tax Speak Out
Amy Crivella was addicted to cigarettes. She tried everything—gum, patches, going cold turkey—but nothing worked. Then, she tried e-cigarettes, or vaping, and she didn’t need a cigarette for the first time…
Media
Read More: More Victims of Devastating New Tax Speak Out
Removing Labels: My Journey to Commonwealth Foundation’s Board
How did a registered Democrat and the daughter of former Democratic Governor George Leader find a place on Commonwealth Foundation’s Board? Some might say the relationship seems a stretch. Or does…
Commentary
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Removing Labels: My Journey to Commonwealth Foundation’s Board
How did a registered Democrat and the daughter of former Democratic Governor George Leader find a place on Commonwealth Foundation’s Board? Some might say the relationship seems a stretch. Or does…
Commentary
Read More: Removing Labels: My Journey to Commonwealth Foundation’s Board
Budget 2016-17: Spend-first, Tax-later
“We want to agree on a general appropriations bill, and then we'll get to work on how to pay for it.” That’s not how budgeting should work—just ask any family…
Commentary
Read More: Budget 2016-17: Spend-first, Tax-later
Budget 2016-17: Spend-first, Tax-later
“We want to agree on a general appropriations bill, and then we'll get to work on how to pay for it.” That’s not how budgeting should work—just ask any family…
Commentary
Read More: Budget 2016-17: Spend-first, Tax-later
Chart of the Month Aug-Sept
On of these Pa. growth rates is not like the others…
Commentary
Read More: Chart of the Month Aug-Sept