Erik Telford

Media Contact
media(at)commonwealthfoundation.org

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

Wolf’s Cradle-to-Grave Tax Plan Burdens Families, Sacrifices Jobs

June 10, 2015

Wolf’s Cradle-to-Grave Tax Plan Burdens Families,Sacrifices Jobs Prioritizing—Not Increasing—Spending is Better for Everyone Good morning, Gov. Wolf’s cradle-to-grave tax plan asks Pennsylvanians to sacrifice some big-ticket items—$1,400 per…

Press Release

Energy

Gas Tax Critics Champion, not Oppose, Progress

Gordon Tomb
June 9, 2015

Recently, Gov. Tom Wolf sent a letter to 17 business advocacy groups opposing his proposed severance tax on natural gas, accusing them of siding “with corporate special interests who simply…

Commentary

Education

Chart: Education Funding Per Student

Nathan Benefield
June 9, 2015

There is an ongoing myth that Pennsylvania underfunds public schools because our “state share” is low. Let’s set the record straight. As a reminder, schools receive revenue from local, state,…

Media

Public Union Democracy

Opening the Curtain on Government Unions

Priya Brannick
June 9, 2015

Because such labor contracts involve billions of taxpayer dollars, citizens have a right to know what each side is proposing before being legally obligated to fund them. In addition, Pennsylvania…

Fact Sheet

PA overtime costs hit two-decade record last year

June 9, 2015

Topics on this page Pennsylvania…

Media Hit

Union stalls liquor privatization

June 9, 2015

Media Hit

Taxes & Economy

Audio: The True Impact of a Severance Tax

Jonathan Reginella
June 8, 2015

Gov. Wolf justifies his proposed natural gas severance tax with populist rhetoric, claiming Pennsylvania’s gas drillers aren’t paying their “fair share.” This is far from accurate. Gas drillers paid more…

Media

Government Accountability

Podcast: Who Killed Harrisburg?

June 8, 2015

Who killed Harrisburg? That’s the question award-winning investigative reporter Chris Papst answers in his new book Capital Murder, which chronicles how Harrisburg became the only capital city in American…

Media

Philly school district’s fuzzy math clouds legit budget deficit

June 8, 2015

Topics on this page Philadelphia…

Media Hit

State Budget

Audio: Gov. Wolf’s Budget Harms Workers at All Income Levels

Jonathan Reginella
June 5, 2015

At the same time Gov. Wolf is claiming his budget proposal will bring a net tax reduction, an Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) study reveals his proposal would actually inflict…

Media

Regulation

Testimony: Pension Inaction Puts Public Employees at Risk

June 4, 2015

Pension Inaction Puts Public Employees at Risk New Retirement Plan Will Protect Teachers, Troopers, State Workers, and Taxpayers Good morning, Despite Pennsylvania’s public pension costs jumping $2 billion—or $600…

Press Release

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

Nathan Benefield
June 3, 2015

The presumption of innocence is at the heart of our nation’s criminal justice system. Yet here in Pennsylvania you can lose your property without ever being convicted of a crime—and…

Media

Education

Charters Drowning in Red Tape

James Paul
June 3, 2015

What could your family, business, or place of work do with an extra 700 hours? This is a question Pennsylvania charter schools are likely asking after a new report from…

Media

Let the Sun Shine There, Not Here

June 3, 2015

Media Hit

Another levy could undermine a profitable industry for Pa.

June 3, 2015

Topics on this page Pennsylvania…

Media Hit

Taxes & Economy

All Pennsylvanians Would Pay for Nation’s Highest Severance Tax

Jonathan Reginella
June 2, 2015

Gov. Wolf proposed a natural gas extraction tax on Pennsylvania’s oil and gas industry to make drillers pay what union special interests dub their “fair share.” In testimony to…

Media

State Budget

Zero Votes for Wolf Tax Hikes

Nathan Benefield
June 2, 2015

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted on Gov. Tom Wolf’s proposed tax increase—the largest in Pennsylvania’s history. The tax proposal failed by a 0-193 vote. That’s right, not a…

Media

Armed with powerful lobbyists, union stonewalls liquor privatization in PA

June 1, 2015

Topics on this page Pennsylvania…

Media Hit

Education

Testimony: Natural Gas Tax Costs Jobs, Threatens Family Budgets

June 1, 2015

Natural Gas Tax Costs Jobs, Threatens Family Budgets Fixing Pensions & School Funding Formula Better Solutions for Education Good morning, Today, Commonwealth Foundation Vice President of Policy Analysis Nathan…

Press Release

Education

Natural Gas Severance Tax

Nathan Benefield
June 1, 2015

Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources Energy Committee And Finance Committee Good afternoon. I want to thank Chairmen Yaw and Yudichak and Chairmen Eichelberger and Blake, along with the…

Testimony

Busting PA’s budget with welfare spending can be avoided, study finds

May 29, 2015

Media Hit