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
Mass Transit Bailout
2025 Budget Proposal Seeks to Further Subsidize Inefficient Agencies Summary Mass transit agencies, including Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) in Pittsburgh, have seen…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Mass Transit BailoutRegulation
New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable Benefits
Commonwealth Foundation’s new report analyzes the success of DoorDash’s Portable Benefits Pilot Program in Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, Pa., April 24, 2025 – DoorDash unveiled its portable benefits pilot…
Press Release
Read More: New Report: Gig-Workers Prefer Flexibility of Portable BenefitsRegulation
Portable Benefits for Gig-Workers
Findings from a DoorDash pilot program in Pennsylvania. Summary In April 2024, with the support of Gov. Josh Shapiro, DoorDash launched a first-of-its-kind portable benefits six-month pilot program for…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Portable Benefits for Gig-WorkersRegulation
Bring Domestic Steel Manufacturing Into America’s Golden Age
Originally published by Broad + Liberty. If there is to be a new Golden Age for American industry and manufacturing, Pennsylvania will play a leading role. In recent years, a…
Media Hit
Read More: Bring Domestic Steel Manufacturing Into America’s Golden AgeHealth Care
Medicaid Reform Needed to Eliminate Waste and Fraud
Originally published by Morning Call. Our national health-care safety net, known as Medicaid, is fundamentally broken. It prioritizes the healthy over the sick and insurers over patients—with little accountability. Finally,…
Media Hit
Read More: Medicaid Reform Needed to Eliminate Waste and FraudEducation
Andrew Lewis on ‘This Week in Pennsylvania’
Andrew Lewis, Commonwealth Foundation’s President & CEO, joined Dennis Owens to discuss the education and energy policies that will empower all Pennsylvanians to thrive. Lewis called on Governor Josh…
Media Hit
Read More: Andrew Lewis on ‘This Week in Pennsylvania’Taxes & Economy
Stephen Bloom joins RJ Harris in the Morning to Talk Tax Reform
Was your Tax Day painful this year? Pennsylvania’s tax structure may be the reason. Commonwealth Foundation’s Vice President Stephen Bloom joins RJ Harris in the Morning to discuss why Pennsylvanians…
Media Hit
Read More: Stephen Bloom joins RJ Harris in the Morning to Talk Tax Reform
End the “Green New Scam” Loan Machine
Originally published by RealClearEnergy. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) was created to help advance clean-energy infrastructure and technologies that allegedly had the potential to be adequate…
Media Hit
Read More: End the “Green New Scam” Loan MachineEnergy
Here’s the ‘Green’ Fuel the Left Refuses to Celebrate This Earth Day
Originally published by The Daily Signal. As Earth Day approaches on Tuesday, climate activists remind us of the importance of cutting carbon emissions. Yet, one inconvenient truth escapes their green-tinged talking…
Media Hit
Read More: Here’s the ‘Green’ Fuel the Left Refuses to Celebrate This Earth DayPublic Union Democracy
New Analysis Reveals Striking Partisanship of Government Union Spending
Government unions spent more than $33 million on political causes and only 5.2 percent of PAC contributions went to non-Democratic candidates. Harrisburg, Pa., April 16, 2025 — Government unions…
Press Release
Read More: New Analysis Reveals Striking Partisanship of Government Union SpendingPublic Union Democracy
Government Union Political Spending in Pennsylvania’s 2023–24 Election Cycle
Key Points Government unions enjoy a host of special legal privileges in Pennsylvania, which allow their executives to exert undue influence over Pennsylvania’s public policy process. Government union bosses use…
Backgrounder
Read More: Government Union Political Spending in Pennsylvania’s 2023–24 Election CycleState Budget
Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax Reform
Originally published by RealClearPennsylvania. Today is Tax Day. Each year, April 15th reminds us of the costliness of government spending – and why lawmakers must reduce this financial burden on…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvanians Are in Dire Need of Tax ReformEducation
Josh Shapiro Keeps Betraying Poor Pennsylvania Children
Originally published by The Wall Street Journal. Immanuel Christian School is in dire straits, but not for lack of students who want to go there. Demand is high for the…
Media Hit
Read More: Josh Shapiro Keeps Betraying Poor Pennsylvania ChildrenEnergy
Deficit Watch: April 2025
Improving Pennsylvania’s economy will help close the deficit. Background Pennsylvania faces serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2024–25 General Fund budget created a $3.6 billion structural deficit.
Deficit Watch
Read More: Deficit Watch: April 2025
Rural Pennsylvanians Deserve School Choice, Too
Originally published by Delaware Valley Journal. Education reform fixates on Pennsylvania’s urban centers (i.e., Philadelphia and Pittsburgh). Yet, the state’s troubled education system isn’t only…
Media Hit
Read More: Rural Pennsylvanians Deserve School Choice, TooGovernment Accountability
Josh Shapiro’s Taxpayer-Funded Self-Promotional Horror Show
Originally published by The Washington Times. National Democrats are embarrassing themselves on social media. Look no further than the awkward lip-syncing and “Mortal Kombat” spoofs…
Media Hit
Read More: Josh Shapiro’s Taxpayer-Funded Self-Promotional Horror ShowPublic Union Democracy
Protecting Public Employees’ Personal Information
Summary Government unions regularly obtain sensitive personal information from employers through their collective bargaining processes. Unions are not responsible stewards of this sensitive information. The Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA)…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Protecting Public Employees’ Personal InformationHealth Care
How to Help Pennsylvanians Prosper with Medicaid and SNAP Reform
Work requirements, strengthening eligibility verification, and prioritizing traditional enrollees will lead to better outcomes. Summary The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid programs are intended to help adults increase…
Fact Sheet
Read More: How to Help Pennsylvanians Prosper with Medicaid and SNAP ReformEducation
Gov. Shapiro’s appearance on ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ smacked of unreality
Originally published by Lancaster Online. On the March 14 episode of “Real Time With Bill Maher,” Gov. Josh Shapiro gave an unreal performance — literally. Indeed,…
Media Hit
Read More: Gov. Shapiro’s appearance on ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’ smacked of unrealityGovernment Accountability
Unions are failing to protect the privacy of members from hackers
Originally published by Penn Live. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) recently sued the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) over concerns about Elon Musk’s crew gaining…
Media Hit
Read More: Unions are failing to protect the privacy of members from hackersPublic Union Democracy
Penn State faculty will get more than they bargain for with SEIU
Originally published by Centre Daily Press. Higher education’s future seems bleak. The national decline in enrollment has forced countless colleges and universities to tighten belts…
Media Hit
Read More: Penn State faculty will get more than they bargain for with SEIU