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
Assessing the Cost of Tom Wolf’s Spending and Tax Proposals
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf has proposed several new spending initiatives and tax code changes, though specific details remain lacking. To give Pennsylvanians a better idea of the impact of these proposals,…
Memo
Read More: Assessing the Cost of Tom Wolf’s Spending and Tax ProposalsEducation
Analysis: Wolf’s “Fresh Start” Plan Requires Huge Tax Increases
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Wolf’s $4.6 Billion in New Education Spending Would Require Doubling State Income Tax Analysis Reveals PA Families Face…
Press Release
Read More: Analysis: Wolf’s “Fresh Start” Plan Requires Huge Tax IncreasesEducation
PFT/AFT: Politics Before Health Care
The recent decision by the Philadelphia School Reform Commission (SRC) to cancel the school district’s contract with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)—and require teachers to pay up to 13…
Media
Read More: PFT/AFT: Politics Before Health CareState Budget
Immunizing Taxpayers from Chronic Overspending
Last week, two major bond rating agencies (Fitch and Standards & Poor’s) downgraded Pennsylvania’s debt rating citing poor fiscal health. While this should worry voters—taxpayers will be forced to pay…
Commentary
Read More: Immunizing Taxpayers from Chronic OverspendingRegulation
How Much are Pension Costs Affecting Schools?
My colleague Katrina has an op-ed in The Patriot-News today explaining the gravity of the state pension crisis and why action needs to happen now. As Katrina points out,…
Media
Read More: How Much are Pension Costs Affecting Schools?Health Care
When the Poorest Fall Through
On a Friday near noon, on the top floor of Christ Lutheran Church, John Kiessling has patients occupying both chairs at his charity dental clinic. He buzzes from one to…
Media
Read More: When the Poorest Fall Through
As lawmakers return, the stakes are too high to play politics with pensions: Katrina Anderson
Media Hit
Read More: As lawmakers return, the stakes are too high to play politics with pensions: Katrina AndersonEducation
Lawmakers Vote Today – Educate Students at a Fraction of the Cost
For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Scholarship Programs Already Saved School Districts Nearly a Billion Dollars EITC and OSTC Save Money While Improving Education Outcomes…
Press Release
Read More: Lawmakers Vote Today – Educate Students at a Fraction of the CostTaxes & Economy
New Tax Would Add to Challenges of Gas Industry
Armstrong County farmer Randy Walker worries about the effect of a natural gas severance tax on his royalties and the job market. Mr. Walker’s concerns are well founded. The natural gas…
Commentary
Read More: New Tax Would Add to Challenges of Gas Industry
Teachers Sue Union for Censoring Charitable Donations
Media Hit
Read More: Teachers Sue Union for Censoring Charitable Donations
Immunizing Pennsylvania taxpayers
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
Media Hit
Read More: Immunizing Pennsylvania taxpayersEducation
Union-Backed Report Rife with Hypocrisy
Three union-affiliated groups released a report alleging that Pennsylvania charter schools defrauded taxpayers to the tune of $30 million since 1997. Predictably, this story has been greeted…
Media
Read More: Union-Backed Report Rife with Hypocrisy
Schoolyard Fight: Corbett, Wolf spar over the governor’s history of education funding
Media Hit
Read More: Schoolyard Fight: Corbett, Wolf spar over the governor’s history of education funding
Nathan Benefield: How to immunize Pa. taxpayers from chronic overspending
Media Hit
Read More: Nathan Benefield: How to immunize Pa. taxpayers from chronic overspending
Pennsylvania Decision to Expand Medicaid Could Prove Costly
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Decision to Expand Medicaid Could Prove CostlyRegulation
Unpopular Attempt to Undo Uber
Last week two Pennsylvania Utility Commission (PUC) administrative law judges recommended against legalizing the popular transportation service Uber in Allegheny County. The reason? The company, “is not committed to…
Media
Read More: Unpopular Attempt to Undo Uber
State’s Medicaid expansion, Healthy PA, to begin enrollment
Topics on this page Medicaid…
Media Hit
Read More: State’s Medicaid expansion, Healthy PA, to begin enrollmentEducation
School Funding Doublespeak
How can school funding be “slashed” yet “technically rise”? Take a look at this excerpt from a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, (emphasis mine): Education funding to…
Media
Read More: School Funding Doublespeak
Proud
You may have heard about a nationwide Great Communicators Tournament in which SIX of our team members were semi-finalists. Well, I’m proud to announce that—out of hundreds of participants—our…
Media
Read More: Proud