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.”
Taxes & Economy
Leader of the Free World?
What do Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and Canada have in common? Their citizens all enjoy more economic freedom than Americans. According to the 2015 Economic Freedom of the World Index,…
Media
Read More: Leader of the Free World?Regulation
Audio: Getting Government Out of the Booze Business
A majority of Pennsylvanians support a privatized liquor industry, but government unions use their financial clout to ensure the state government maintains a monopoly over wine and spirits. WILK’s…
Media
Read More: Audio: Getting Government Out of the Booze BusinessEducation
Cosigned: Amicus Brief Says SCOTUS Must Restore Teachers’ Rights
Cosigned: Amicus Brief Says SCOTUS Must Restore Teachers’ Rights Friedrichs Case Critical to Restoring PA Teachers’ Freedoms September 16, 2015, Harrisburg, Pa.—For Pennsylvania teachers and other public…
Press Release
Read More: Cosigned: Amicus Brief Says SCOTUS Must Restore Teachers’ RightsEducation
Young Teachers Pay the Price for Pension Politics
The first month of a new school year is an exciting—but stressful—time for school teachers. This is particularly true for young, newly-hired teachers who must quickly acclimate to their students,…
Media
Read More: Young Teachers Pay the Price for Pension PoliticsState Budget
Free the Budget Hostages
This week, lawmakers are expected to vote for a “stop-gap budget”—funding state services and programs for a few months, while continuing to negotiate a budget compromise. Yet, some politicians oppose…
Media
Read More: Free the Budget HostagesRegulation
The PLCB: Fermented Grape’s Gatekeeper
Last week 90.5 WESA published a story about the PA Preferred Wine Program—a tool designed to help promote Pennsylvania wines. The program allows in-state wine producers to apply for…
Media
Read More: The PLCB: Fermented Grape’s GatekeeperPublic Union Democracy
Setting the Record Straight on Pensions
Government union leaders argue against meaningful pension reform with radical rallying cries like, “Your pension is under attack!” and mounds of other misinformation. Here's a quick fact check on some…
Media
Read More: Setting the Record Straight on PensionsEducation
Audio: Budget Impasse Debate
With the state budget impasse in its third month, funding for critical things such as education and social services remains in question. CF’s Elizabeth Stelle spoke with WHYY’s Marty Moss-Coane and opposite…
Media
Read More: Audio: Budget Impasse DebatePublic Union Democracy
Union Dues are Used for Politics (and Members Don’t Know It)
Yesterday's blog post and infographic noted how union dues from Pennsylvania teachers and state workers fund political ads from America Works USA. In response, on both Twitter…
Media
Read More: Union Dues are Used for Politics (and Members Don’t Know It)Regulation
Corporate Welfare’s Hazards
State officials often hail the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP or R-Cap) as a tool for “economic development” projects across the commonwealth. The program uses borrowed money—with interest payments financed by taxpayers—to…
Media
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How Public Employees are Forced to Fund Attack Ads
Pennsylvania school teachers and state workers are being forced to fund political attacks—with money collected at taxpayer expense through public payroll systems. Here’s how it works: Last year, 228,291 Pennsylvania…
Media
Read More: How Public Employees are Forced to Fund Attack AdsPublic Union Democracy
Unions Must Answer for Pension Hypocrisy
Would you believe the most vocal opponents to public pension reform—Pennsylvania’s largest government unions—have actually implemented the very kind of reform they are fighting against?…
Commentary
Read More: Unions Must Answer for Pension HypocrisyState Budget
Audio: Is Gov. Wolf Taking Hostages?
Gov. Wolf still refuses to back down from his budget demands–which include the largest tax hike in Pennsylvania’s history. Not only would this add an additional $1,425 in taxes on every family of…
Media
Read More: Audio: Is Gov. Wolf Taking Hostages?State Budget
Tax Hikes Threaten Debbie’s Flower Shop
Debbie is a small business owner. She operates Pealer's Flowers with her husband in Camp Hill, and they're worried about Gov. Tom Wolf's tax hikes. Debbie explains: “We're all doing…
Media
Read More: Tax Hikes Threaten Debbie’s Flower ShopEducation
A Day in the Life of a Union Dollar
Contact: Gina Diorio, 862-703-6670, gld@comfdnprod.wpengine.com A Day in the Life of a Union Dollar Does Most PSEA Spending Support Teachers? Think Again. September 3, 2015, Harrisburg, Pa.—James…
Press Release
Read More: A Day in the Life of a Union DollarRegulation
Audio: Weathering the Budget Impasse
Another day passes without a state budget in Pennsylvania, causing panic among public officials who can't pay the bills and among parents who have children attending schools unable to make payroll. Still, Gov.
Media
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Let Harrisburg Know That We Can’t Afford Gov. Wolf’s Taxes!
Budget 2015 Digital Ads Email Form Topics on this page Harrisburg…
Media
Read More: Let Harrisburg Know That We Can’t Afford Gov. Wolf’s Taxes!Regulation
Corruption is Spelled P-L-C-B
When it comes to government corruption investigations, Attorney General Kathleen Kane has dominated the conversation this summer. But now, as if seemingly miffed at the spotlight being taken away from…
Media
Read More: Corruption is Spelled P-L-C-BEducation
Pa. Teachers Exit Unions, Reclaim Freedom
Contact: Gina Diorio, 862-703-6670, gld@comfdnprod.wpengine.com Pa. Teachers Exit Unions, Reclaim Freedom Coercive Unionism in Pa. School Districts Drives Teachers to Find Alternatives September 1, 2015, Harrisburg, Pa.—On the…
Press Release
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It’s Time to Free Pennsylvania Teachers
This op-ed is written by Julie Raab, a teacher in Dauphin County and originally appeared in PennLive on August 30, 2015. After almost 30 years as an elementary…
Media
Read More: It’s Time to Free Pennsylvania TeachersRegulation
PLCB Once Again Drunk on Scandal
Contact: Gina Diorio, 862-703-6670, gld@comfdnprod.wpengine.com PLCB Once Again Drunk on Scandal Ethics Charges Latest in String of Corruption Good evening, Today, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s (PLCB)…
Press Release
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