Erik Telford

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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.” 

Energy

An ‘All-of-the-Above’ Energy Plan Is No Plan At All

  • André Béliveau
  • September 4, 2024

Originally published at National Review When it comes to energy policy, our political zeitgeist is rather, shall we say, energized. During the Democratic National Convention, Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro —…

Media Hit

Read More: An ‘All-of-the-Above’ Energy Plan Is No Plan At All

Public Union Democracy

Government Unions are Down — But Not Out

  • Andrew Holman, David Osborne
  • September 2, 2024

Originally published at The American Spectator In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court humbled public sector union officials accustomed to taking advantage of the public employees they were supposed to…

Media Hit

Read More: Government Unions are Down — But Not Out

Public Union Democracy

The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor Laws

  • Andrew Holman, David Osborne
  • August 28, 2024

Key Findings The four largest government unions—American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), National Education Association (NEA), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU)—lost…

Executive Summary

Read More: The Battle for Worker Freedom: Grading State Public Sector Labor Laws

Energy

Troubling times are ahead for American energy

  • André Béliveau
  • August 26, 2024

Originally published at The Patriot-News If you thought your energy bills were ridiculous this summer, a recent power market auction indicates things will only worsen. Every year,…

Media Hit

Read More: Troubling times are ahead for American energy

Regulation

Harris’s Price Controls Ignore Basic Economics

  • Stephen Bloom
  • August 22, 2024

Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Vice President Kamala Harris wants to make groceries cheaper. However, her vague proposal to ban “price gouging” will have the opposite effect. Economists,…

Media Hit

Read More: Harris’s Price Controls Ignore Basic Economics

Education

DNC Ad Highlights Josh Shapiro’s Record: Ain’t Got Sh*t Done

  • August 20, 2024

Harrisburg, Pa., Aug. 20, 2024—While Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro makes the rounds at Democratic Convention events in Chicago, the Commonwealth Foundation is highlighting his lack of legislative accomplishments in an…

Press Release

Read More: DNC Ad Highlights Josh Shapiro’s Record: Ain’t Got Sh*t Done

Energy

André Béliveau Discusses LNG Energy Policy on Fox and Friends

  • André Béliveau
  • August 19, 2024

Sr. Manager of Energy Policy André Béliveau joined Fox and Friends’ Brian Kilmeade on Monday, August 19, 2024, to discuss energy policy, LNG exports, and Vice President Harris’ flip flop…

Media Hit

Read More: André Béliveau Discusses LNG Energy Policy on Fox and Friends

Energy

Commonwealth Foundation Joins Over 50 Organizations Opposing Anti-Energy Policies in the Inflation Reduction Act on its Two-Year Anniversary

  • August 16, 2024

Originally published at the Competitive Enterprise Institute The Competitive Enterprise Institute today sent a coalition letter signed by more than 50 conservative and free market organizations to Congress urging the dismantling of…

Coalition Letter

Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Joins Over 50 Organizations Opposing Anti-Energy Policies in the Inflation Reduction Act on its Two-Year Anniversary

Education

Shapiro Lost the Veepstakes–and He Only Has Himself to Blame

  • Nathan Benefield
  • August 13, 2024

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Earlier this month, all signs pointed to Gov. Josh Shapiro joining Vice President Kamala Harris on the Democratic presidential ticket. After all, Shapiro sits atop…

Media Hit

Read More: Shapiro Lost the Veepstakes–and He Only Has Himself to Blame

Education

Josh Shapiro Can Now Focus on Leading Pennsylvania

  • August 13, 2024

Harrisburg, Pa., August 13, 2024 — Vice President Kamala Harris’ selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate should have Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro asking himself, why Walz, writes Commonwealth…

Press Release

Read More: Josh Shapiro Can Now Focus on Leading Pennsylvania

Education

Josh Shapiro can now focus on leading Pennsylvania

  • Charles Mitchell
  • August 11, 2024

Originally published at The Patriot-News Being passed over for vice president may be the best thing that ever happened to Josh Shapiro. That’s probably not what our…

Media Hit

Read More: Josh Shapiro can now focus on leading Pennsylvania

Energy

The DEP won’t use the people who can solve the problem

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • August 9, 2024

Originally published at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Government red tape has long been a problem in Pennsylvania, hindering economic growth and making the commonwealth unattractive for businesses. To address this…

Media Hit

Read More: The DEP won’t use the people who can solve the problem

Public Union Democracy

Unions and the Federal Workforce: Challenges and Reforms

  • David Osborne
  • August 6, 2024

In this insightful episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report, host David Osborne is joined by James Sherk, the Director of the Center for American Freedom, to delve into public…

Podcast

Read More: Unions and the Federal Workforce: Challenges and Reforms

Education

André Béliveau on Kamala’s VP Pick

  • André Béliveau
  • August 6, 2024

André Béliveau, Senior Manager of Energy Policy at the Commonwealth Foundation, joins us. Originally we had booked Andre to discuss why Shapiro would be a poor choice, but with the…

Media Hit

Read More: André Béliveau on Kamala’s VP Pick

Energy

High gas prices threaten Pennsylvania’s economy

  • Hanna Bechtel
  • August 6, 2024

Originally published at Broad + Liberty Summer road trips and tourism are integral to Pennsylvania. From riding buggies in Amish Country to visiting Gettysburg’s battlegrounds, people nationwide journey to the…

Media Hit

Read More: High gas prices threaten Pennsylvania’s economy

Education

S2: E6 Featuring CEO of ACE Scholarships Norton Rainey

  • August 5, 2024

In this episode of the School Choice Report podcast, host David Hardy is joined by Norton Rainey, CEO of ACE Scholarships, based in Denver, Colorado. ACE Scholarships is dedicated to…

Podcast

Read More: S2: E6 Featuring CEO of ACE Scholarships Norton Rainey

State Budget

Pennsylvania’s spending billions more than we can afford

  • Andrew Holman
  • August 5, 2024

Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Harrisburg celebrates the newly signed 2024–25 state budget. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, his fellow Democratic lawmakers, and even state Senate Republicans see the…

Media Hit

Read More: Pennsylvania’s spending billions more than we can afford