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.”
Education
Here’s some friendly advice to the new Pennsylvania general assembly
Originally published at The Patriot-News Pennsylvania lawmakers swore their oath of office in Harrisburg, and a new legislative session is upon us. As two former…
Media Hit
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Where is Josh Shapiro on U.S. Steel?
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Will Gov. Josh Shapiro finally raise a finger to save U.S. Steel? That’s been the question ever since former President Joe…
Media Hit
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Poll Shows Pennsylvanians Demand a New Path Forward from State and Federal Elected Officials
More than 8-in-10 support Trump proposals, including tax cuts, regulatory relief, and an end to Biden policies that have crippled energy production. Voters overwhelmingly support initiatives Shapiro promised as a…
Press Release
Read More: Poll Shows Pennsylvanians Demand a New Path Forward from State and Federal Elected OfficialsEnergy
Paris Agreement Exit Signals Return of American Energy Dominance
Originally published at Newsweek What matters more: America’s economy or European climate radicalism? Just hours after taking the Oath of Office, President Donald Trump gave the right answer. He withdrew…
Media Hit
Read More: Paris Agreement Exit Signals Return of American Energy DominanceEducation
2025 State of Education Spending in Pennsylvania
Overview The national trends impacting education in Pennsylvania in 2025 include an impending fiscal cliff, under-enrolled schools, and population decline, all of which lead to school closures…
Backgrounder
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S2: E11 Featuring President of National School Choice Week Andrew Campanella
What if you could revolutionize your child’s education with just one decision? As we wrap up Season 2, guest host Guy Ciarrocchi sits down with Andrew Campanella, President of National…
Podcast
Read More: S2: E11 Featuring President of National School Choice Week Andrew CampanellaState Budget
Pennsylvania’s running out of money
Originally published at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Stacy Garrity recently issued an urgent warning: This year’s budget will determine the commonwealth’s economic future — so lawmakers must plan wisely. Garrity, reelected…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s running out of moneyState Budget
How to Balance the PA State Budget
Key Points Pennsylvania faces a $3.6 billion structural deficit in fiscal year (FY) 2024–25. Unless addressed, the deficit will require massive tax increases on working families by next year. Extreme…
Backgrounder
Read More: How to Balance the PA State BudgetPublic Union Democracy
Unions at a Crossroads: Democracy, Transparency, and Bridging Divides
Jake Altman, author of Socialism before Sanders, joins Disunion: The Government Union Report podcast host David R. Osborne to discuss labor unions and their challenges. Altman, a former union leader,…
Podcast
Read More: Unions at a Crossroads: Democracy, Transparency, and Bridging DividesPublic Union Democracy
The Questions Chavez-DeRemer Must Answer
Originally published at RealClearPolicy Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) faces an uphill battle—and deservedly so. As President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, Chavez-DeRemer has both sides of the aisle…
Media Hit
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How Pennsylvania House Democrats may derail Shapiro’s national ambitions
Originally published at Broad + Liberty The 2024 election may be over, but it is safe to bet that Gov. Josh Shapiro — whose national ambitions are well known…
Media Hit
Read More: How Pennsylvania House Democrats may derail Shapiro’s national ambitionsTaxes & Economy
New Year, New Taxes in Pennsylvania
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The new year is always a great opportunity to shed vices like smoking and binge eating. For state and local lawmakers, their guilty pleasure tends…
Media Hit
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RGGI Is a Destructive Policy for Pennsylvania
Overview The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a multi-state cap-and-trade program that imposes a carbon tax on power generators, resulting in a new, economy-wide energy…
Fact Sheet
Read More: RGGI Is a Destructive Policy for PennsylvaniaState Budget
The Rainy Day Fund
Summary The Budget Stabilization Reserve Fund, commonly referred to as the Rainy Day Fund, is Pennsylvania’s largest budgetary reserve fund. Pennsylvania law dictates that lawmakers may only draw from the…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Rainy Day FundEducation
Allentown students need more than strategic plans, they need choices
Originally published at The Morning Call The future for Allentown students is so bright they better wear shades. At least, that was the overarching theme of a recent public…
Media Hit
Read More: Allentown students need more than strategic plans, they need choicesEducation
Philadelphia public schools have an antisemitism problem — where does Shapiro stand?
Originally published at The Mercury An unsettling report dropped over the holiday break. The civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Education found that Jewish…
Media Hit
Read More: Philadelphia public schools have an antisemitism problem — where does Shapiro stand?State Budget
Deficit Watch: January 2025
Background Pennsylvania faces serious fiscal challenges. The enacted 2024–25 General Fund budget created a $3.6 billion structural deficit, with $47.6 billion in spending and only $43.9 billion in net…
Deficit Watch
Read More: Deficit Watch: January 2025Energy
Sr. Manager of Energy Policy André Béliveau on the Dawn Stensland Show January 6, 2025
What’s up with President Biden’s attempt to paralyze the energy industry and America? Our Sr. Manager of Energy Policy André Béliveau recently joined the Dawn Stensland Show to talk about…
Media Hit
Read More: Sr. Manager of Energy Policy André Béliveau on the Dawn Stensland Show January 6, 2025Energy
RGGI Is Unconstitutional, Harmful, and Useless
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is on the cusp of shaping the commonwealth’s economic future. The court will soon rule on the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s entry…
Media Hit
Read More: RGGI Is Unconstitutional, Harmful, and UselessRegulation
Shapiro’s “Fast-Track” program is great for his allies, but bad for Pennsylvania
Originally published at The Patriot-News Is Josh Shapiro the future of the Democratic Party? He certainly wants to be, but he just failed an early test. This…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro’s “Fast-Track” program is great for his allies, but bad for Pennsylvania