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
Unions First, Teachers & Students Last
The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) might take legal action against the School District of Philadelphia for … wait for it … hiring back teachers. The Philadelphia School Reform Commission…
Media
Read More: Unions First, Teachers & Students LastHealth Care
Want to Help the Poor? Don’t Expand Medicaid
Yesterday, we talked about why Michigan’s plan to expand Medicaid was a bad deal for taxpayers. But expansion is a bad deal for patients too. Advocates of expansion make…
Media
Read More: Want to Help the Poor? Don’t Expand Medicaid
Burdens of Obamacare
Topics on this page Affordable Care Act…
Media Hit
Read More: Burdens of ObamacareEducation
Podcast: Cyber School in Real Life
Meet Jake Swink. Jake is a 2013 graduate of Bloomsburg University with a degree in Computer Science. In a few weeks, he will be utilizing these skills as a 2nd…
Media
Read More: Podcast: Cyber School in Real LifeHealth Care
Michigan’s Medicaid Mistake
Michigan’s decision to expand Medicaid leaves Pennsylvania and four other states to decide if putting more individuals into a government program is the best way to offer “affordable health…
Media
Read More: Michigan’s Medicaid MistakeRegulation
No Award for PLCB “Effort”
My siblings and I grew up in very difficult circumstances. And by that I mean we grew up without video games. A well-intentioned family friend offered to buy us a…
Media
Read More: No Award for PLCB “Effort”Public Union Democracy
One Marshamallow Now or Taxpayer Relief Later?
What do preschoolers with marshmallows and Pennsylvania’s pension crisis have in common? Both demonstrate a failure to delay gratification. Dr. Joseph Horton at Grove City College compares Pennsylvania’s pension…
Media
Read More: One Marshamallow Now or Taxpayer Relief Later?
Don’t let politicians keep making same mistakes with pensions: PennLive letters
Topics on this page The Patriot-News…
Media Hit
Read More: Don’t let politicians keep making same mistakes with pensions: PennLive lettersHealth Care
Free Market Benefits, Big Government Burdens Obvious in Obama, Sebelius Visits
President Obama and one of his cabinet members are making separate trips to Pennsylvania this week. Their reasons for visiting couldn’t be more different. Today, the President will speak on…
Media
Read More: Free Market Benefits, Big Government Burdens Obvious in Obama, Sebelius VisitsGovernment Accountability
Playing Politics at the PLCB
Politics is getting in the way of reform at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, according to Tribune-Review reporter Kari Andren, who gives us a fascinating look at the internal…
Media
Read More: Playing Politics at the PLCBEducation
Five Facts on the Philadelphia Schools Crisis
Things have reached a fever pitch in Philadelphia as the city’s school district—the eighth-largest in America—is scrambling to close its $300 million deficit and open schools on time. As protestors…
Media
Read More: Five Facts on the Philadelphia Schools CrisisHealth Care
Obamcare’s Premium Shock
Young adults who purchase their health insurance are in for rude awakening under the Affordable Care Act. The ironically-named law will force premiums to spike in order to pad insurance companies’ pockets. Is this what…
Media
Read More: Obamcare’s Premium ShockRegulation
Repeating Detroit’s Error in Pennsylvania
Much has been said about why Detroit lies in critical condition, but one serious wound has been festering for decades: the unsustainable pension and health benefits that were secured for…
Commentary
Read More: Repeating Detroit’s Error in Pennsylvania
A different way to reform Harrisburg
Topics on this page Harrisburg…
Media Hit
Read More: A different way to reform Harrisburg
Forced Union Agreements Assume Educators Cannot Make Own Decisions
I have worked as a high school guidance counselor in an Adams County school district for the past 14 years. The job is a blessing in that it provides a…
Media
Read More: Forced Union Agreements Assume Educators Cannot Make Own Decisions
Another anti-liquor privatization attack proves inaccurate
Media Hit
Read More: Another anti-liquor privatization attack proves inaccurate
After layoffs, Philly schools still hiring
Topics on this page Philadelphia…
Media Hit
Read More: After layoffs, Philly schools still hiringCriminal Justice Reform
Obama Learns from Pa. on Corrections Reform
Criminal justice policy that offers less spending, lower crime and improved outcomes for offenders—too good to be true? Actually, that is the result of recent corrections reforms in…
Media
Read More: Obama Learns from Pa. on Corrections Reform
ALEC is not an evil force in Pennsylvania’s Capitol
Topics on this page PennsylvaniaUnited States Capitol…
Media Hit
Read More: ALEC is not an evil force in Pennsylvania’s CapitolHealth Care
Medicaid Abuse Shows Downside of Expansion
New polling shows 70 percent of Pennsylvania voters think we need to address waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid before expanding the program. A perusal of the news explains…
Media
Read More: Medicaid Abuse Shows Downside of Expansion