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.”
Regulation
New Plan Doesn’t Protect Taxpayers from Pension Politics
Today, the House State Government Committee passed a pension reform bill featuring an unproven “stacked hybrid” plan. This proposal falls short of the pension reform taxpayers needs to protect…
Media
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State Subsidies for International Billionaire
Last year the state financed a $1 million purse (prize money) for a multi-billionaire whose horse won the Pennsylvania Derby. Seriously. The billionaire also happens to be the vice…
Media
Read More: State Subsidies for International BillionaireEducation
Restoring Teachers’ Rights
Teacher Linda Misja is a religious objector to unionism, and as such, can donate the equivalent of her fair share fee–otherwise owed to the union–to charity. But four years ago,…
Media
Read More: Restoring Teachers’ RightsPublic Union Democracy
House Committee Votes to Protect Religious Objectors to Unionism
House Committee Votes to Protect Religious Objectors to Unionism Bill Would End Union Control over Employees’ Charitable Contributions May 17, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Most Pennsylvanians take for…
Press Release
Read More: House Committee Votes to Protect Religious Objectors to UnionismRegulation
Liquor Liberty Loophole for DNC
As Pennsylvania residents and visitors know quite well, our state's liquor laws are outdated. Pennsylvania remains one of only two states where the government completely controls the sale of wine and…
Media
Read More: Liquor Liberty Loophole for DNC
Unions Targeting Vulnerable Pennsylvanians
Dave Smith’s life was turned upside down when Gov. Wolf issued an Executive Order letting the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) with the help of AFSCME (American Federation of…
Media
Read More: Unions Targeting Vulnerable PennsylvaniansTaxes & Economy
The $20 Billion Energy Tax
More than ten years after its passage, Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards continue to stunt our economy. The standards cost the state $4 billion annually, according to a study…
Media
Read More: The $20 Billion Energy TaxEducation
Growing Chorus says “Last-in, First-out” Must Go
Growing Chorus Says “Last-in, First-Out” Must Go To Protect Teachers, Wolf Must Sign Seniority Reform Bill May 12, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—Thousands of Pennsylvania teachers put in extra hours, study…
Press Release
Read More: Growing Chorus says “Last-in, First-out” Must GoEducation
Sugary Drink Tax: Not So Sweet for Philadelphia
Such a believer is Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney in universal preschool that he supports a punitive tax on low-income residents to pay for it. During his stint on City…
Media
Read More: Sugary Drink Tax: Not So Sweet for Philadelphia
Cigarette Taxes Aren’t a Budget Fix
Gov. Wolf’s plan to raise taxes by more than $2.7 billion stands little chance of passing the legislature. Indeed, Republican legislative leaders effectively nixed the governor’s proposal last…
Media
Read More: Cigarette Taxes Aren’t a Budget Fix
Gov. Wolf Threatens Veto, Denying Schools Flexibility they Want
Yesterday, James wrote about the passage of HB 805—legislation that would protect excellent teachers by using performance, not seniority, as the primary factor in furlough decisions. You can view the…
Media
Read More: Gov. Wolf Threatens Veto, Denying Schools Flexibility they WantEnergy
Philly Should Reject Mayor’s Tax-a-Cola Plan
Mayor Kenney’s soda tax would nearly double the average cost of a 12-pack of soda – hitting hardest those who least can afford it, not to mention small retailers, bottlers,…
Commentary
Read More: Philly Should Reject Mayor’s Tax-a-Cola PlanEducation
Pa. Senate Votes to Protect Great Teachers
Pa. Senate Votes to Protect Great Teachers Gov. Wolf Urged to Sign Bill Ending Archaic Last-In-First-Out Policy May 9, 2016, HARRISBURG, Pa.—In a victory for public school students and…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Senate Votes to Protect Great TeachersEducation
Senate Protects Excellent Teachers, Sends Bill to Wolf
In a crucial victory for both students and teachers, the Protecting Excellent Teachers Act passed the Senate this afternoon with a vote of 26 to 22. HB 805, championed…
Media
Read More: Senate Protects Excellent Teachers, Sends Bill to WolfHealth Care
Free Market Solution Expands Access to Care
Harmful regulations prevent Pennsylvania’s nurse practitioners—highly-trained medical professionals who interpret diagnostic tests, treat chronic conditions, and prescribe medication—from doing what they do best: providing quality health care for patients in…
Media
Read More: Free Market Solution Expands Access to CareRegulation
The Consequences of Concentrated Power
We aren't the type of people to begrudge anyone a well-deserved raise. But when it's a $9,000 raise for an inessential position running a government booze monopoly…well, that raises some…
Media
Read More: The Consequences of Concentrated PowerEducation
Obama, Wolf at Odds over Charter Schools
Obama, Wolf at Odds over Charter Schools As Obama Recognizes National Charter Schools Week, Wolf Wants to Slash Charter…
Press Release
Read More: Obama, Wolf at Odds over Charter SchoolsTaxes & Economy
Pennsylvanians Flee from High Taxes
New census figures paint a sobering picture. In 2015 alone, Pennsylvania lost 41,600 residents to other states in net migration. This amounts to one person every 12.5 minutes, nearly…
Memo
Read More: Pennsylvanians Flee from High TaxesEducation
Tom Wolf vs. Barack Obama on Charters
It’s safe to assume Governor Tom Wolf and President Barack Obama agree on many policy issues. But when it comes to public charter schools, Wolf and Obama are worlds apart.
Media
Read More: Tom Wolf vs. Barack Obama on ChartersPublic Union Democracy
Pension Debt Grows by Another Billion
Last week the State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) announced its total unfunded liability increased from $18.44 billion in 2015 to $18.79 billion. In truth, SERS'…
Media
Read More: Pension Debt Grows by Another BillionRegulation
Time to End Corporate Welfare Handouts
Conservatives loathe government handouts. Liberals denounce special favors to corporations. One thing can unify these two sides: ending Pennsylvania’s budget-busting corporate welfare handouts.
Commentary
Read More: Time to End Corporate Welfare Handouts