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.”
It’s time state got out of retail liquor business
Media Hit
Read More: It’s time state got out of retail liquor businessHealth Care
State-Run Health Exchanges: A Terrible Track Record
Governor Wolf is taking a big risk. His administration is preparing a Pennsylvania-operated Obamacare exchange if exchange subsidies from the federal exchange, or healthcare.gov, are ruled illegal by the…
Media
Read More: State-Run Health Exchanges: A Terrible Track RecordTaxes & Economy
Reforming the Welfare Benefits Cliff
Imagine you’re a single mom earning $47,000 a year (or $22.59 an hour) working full-time as an assistant manager at large department store. Your boss pulls you aside with great…
Media
Read More: Reforming the Welfare Benefits Cliff
Nurses: Regulations hamper health-care efficiency in Pennsylvania
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
Read More: Nurses: Regulations hamper health-care efficiency in Pennsylvania
Let’s try this again: Want to shrink government? Get Alabama out of the retail liquor business
Media Hit
Read More: Let’s try this again: Want to shrink government? Get Alabama out of the retail liquor businessState Budget
134 Billion Reasons to Embrace Debt Reform
Every Pennsylvanian’s share of state and local debt increased by 20 percent over the last twelve years. In 2002, per capita debt totaled $8,693. Today, the total is a shade…
Media
Read More: 134 Billion Reasons to Embrace Debt ReformRegulation
The Monster at the end of this Blog Post
One of my favorite children’s books is titled “The Monster at the end of this Book.” In it, Grover (of Sesame Street fame) pleads with the reader not…
Media
Read More: The Monster at the end of this Blog PostRegulation
Senate Pension Reform: Sustainable for Taxpayers, Fair to Public Employees
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Senate Pension Reform: Sustainable for Taxpayers, Fair to Public Employees Critical Retirement Bill Heads to the House, Positioned for…
Press Release
Read More: Senate Pension Reform: Sustainable for Taxpayers, Fair to Public Employees
PA Senate advances historic pension legislation projected to save billions
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
Read More: PA Senate advances historic pension legislation projected to save billionsGovernment Accountability
Audio: Bills Shine Light On Union Contract Negotiations
Public sector union contracts are a huge cost for the state government, and they have also become a conflict of interest for Gov. Wolf. He will be negotiating contract deals with…
Media
Read More: Audio: Bills Shine Light On Union Contract Negotiations
Legislation would save parents from child-care benefits ‘cliff’
Media Hit
Read More: Legislation would save parents from child-care benefits ‘cliff’Education
House Expands Indispensable Scholarship Programs
In a sweeping, bipartisan vote, members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives approved a substantial increase to the state’s cherished scholarship programs—the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC)…
Media
Read More: House Expands Indispensable Scholarship ProgramsPublic Union Democracy
Pension Reform Toolkit
Pension costs are ballooning so quickly, they threaten to consume funds for education, public safety and welfare. Without reform, Pennsylvanians face cuts to services, teacher layoffs, higher property taxes, and…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pension Reform ToolkitRegulation
Senate Tackles Growing Crisis, Advances Responsible Pension Reform
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Senate Tackles Growing Crisis, Advances Responsible Pension Reform Bill Stops Sending More Public Employees Into Broken Retirement System May…
Press Release
Read More: Senate Tackles Growing Crisis, Advances Responsible Pension ReformEducation
Release Time: Diverting Public Resources to Unions
Release time allows government employees to take a leave of absence from their jobs to perform union work. Many government employees working for the union are paid by taxpayers while…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Release Time: Diverting Public Resources to UnionsRegulation
It’s Not Enough Just to Say No…
“It’s not good enough to just say no and continue with the same old same old.” So said Gov. Tom Wolf during his budget address, making clear his administration is…
Media
Read More: It’s Not Enough Just to Say No…
One New Jersey Food Industry Union Boss Was Paid $600,000 in 2014
Topics on this page New Jersey…
Media Hit
Read More: One New Jersey Food Industry Union Boss Was Paid $600,000 in 2014
Shenandoah Valley teachers to strike Tuesday
Media Hit
Read More: Shenandoah Valley teachers to strike TuesdayHealth Care
State Health Care Exchange: A Dangerous Contingency Plan
A week ago Governor Wolf announced his plan to create a state-based health care exchange if the U.S. Supreme Court nixes taxpayer subsidies to insurance companies through the federal…
Media
Read More: State Health Care Exchange: A Dangerous Contingency PlanCriminal Justice Reform
The Jury is In: Corrections Reform is Working
Remember the time lawmakers from both parties came together in Harrisburg and unanimously passed important, groundbreaking reform legislation? It’s not a joke. It happened in 2012. As a result of…
Media
Read More: The Jury is In: Corrections Reform is Working