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
Shapiro Fails to Deliver on Campaign Promises Yet Again, Instead Delivers Massively Flawed Budget
Harrisburg, Pa., July 11, 2024 — Today, the Pennsylvania legislature passed a seriously flawed 2024–25 state budget deal. The deal fails to address the educational needs of students trapped in failing…
Press Release
Read More: Shapiro Fails to Deliver on Campaign Promises Yet Again, Instead Delivers Massively Flawed BudgetEducation
Education Needs More Choices—Not More Money
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Gov. Josh Shapiro and his administration chide the Pennsylvania legislature for hoarding cash with spending sights aimed at draining the commonwealth’s $7 billion Rainy…
Media Hit
Read More: Education Needs More Choices—Not More MoneyEnergy
Pa. Travelers’ Guide: Summer Gasoline Prices
Pennsylvania’s June average gasoline price was higher than all its neighbor states except New York. While Pennsylvania’s gasoline price has decreased from its 2022 record high, the long-term picture shows…
Backgrounder
Read More: Pa. Travelers’ Guide: Summer Gasoline PricesEducation
Child Learning Investment Tax Credit
Summary Last year, lawmakers approved the Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit and a $66.7 million increase for child-care subsidies. Pennsylvania lawmakers are looking for ways to lower…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Child Learning Investment Tax CreditEducation
Pa. Senate Republicans Advance Transformative Child Learning Investment Tax Credit, Standing Up for Taxpayers and Students
Harrisburg, Pa., July 3, 2024 — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate Finance Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1280, the Child Learning Investment Tax Credit, by a vote of 7-4, along party lines.
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Senate Republicans Advance Transformative Child Learning Investment Tax Credit, Standing Up for Taxpayers and StudentsEnergy
Commonwealth Foundation’s André Béliveau on the Chris Stigall Show
Commonwealth Foundation’s Senior Manager of Energy Policy André Béliveau discusses Governor Shapiro’s energy tax proposal on the Chris Stigall Show. https://commonwealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/7-1-24-Commonwealth.mp3 Topics on this pageAndre Beliveau…
Media Hit
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation’s André Béliveau on the Chris Stigall ShowEducation
New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Bipartisanship in Pa. Budget Process
Harrisburg, Pa., July 2, 2024 — As Gov. Josh Shapiro failed to enact the 2024–25 Pennsylvania budget by the June 30th deadline, voters overwhelmingly support increased bipartisanship in the budget process,…
Media
Read More: New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support for Bipartisanship in Pa. Budget ProcessPublic Union Democracy
Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of Education
Get ready for a riveting episode of Disunion: The Government Union Report! Host David Osborne is joined by The Daily Signal Investigative Columnist and WIBC radio host Tony Kennett for…
Podcast
Read More: Teachers’ Unions Influence and the Politics of EducationEducation
Is Josh Shapiro Capable of Leadership?
Harrisburg, Pa., July 2, 2024 — In The Wall Street Journal, columnist William McGurn explores claims that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, currently floated by some pundits as a possible replacement for President Joe Biden…
Press Release
Read More: Is Josh Shapiro Capable of Leadership?Education
Analysis: Pa. Gov. Shapiro Struggles to Govern, Resulting in Record Lack of Accomplishment
Harrisburg, Pa., July 1, 2024 — Despite speculation of replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket, Gov. Josh Shapiro has been an ineffective leader with few legislative…
Press Release
Read More: Analysis: Pa. Gov. Shapiro Struggles to Govern, Resulting in Record Lack of AccomplishmentEducation
Analysis: Shapiro’s Record Least Productive in 50 Years
Harrisburg, Pa., July 1, 2024 — Despite speculation of replacing President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket, Gov. Josh Shapiro has been an ineffective leader with few legislative…
Press Release
Read More: Analysis: Shapiro’s Record Least Productive in 50 YearsEducation
Jay-Z, MLK, and the progressive opposition to genuine reform
Originally published at Broad + Liberty It’s not often you can mention Jay-Z and Martin Luther King, Jr. in the same breath. Yet, the Brooklyn-born hip-hop mogul and the…
Media Hit
Read More: Jay-Z, MLK, and the progressive opposition to genuine reformEducation
Governor Josh Shapiro “Ain’t Got Sh*t Done”
Overview Governor Josh Shapiro has made “Get Sh*t Done,” profanity and all, the official slogan of his administration, but when it comes to legislative accomplishments, his governing abilities have…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Governor Josh Shapiro “Ain’t Got Sh*t Done”Education
Pennsylvania’s Education Failures Could Cost Taxpayers Billions
Harrisburg, Pa., June 28, 2024 — Pennsylvania’s K–12 educational shortcomings could burden taxpayers with nearly $8.8 billion in added costs, according to the Commonwealth Foundation’s latest analysis. The report reveals the…
Press Release
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Education Failures Could Cost Taxpayers BillionsEducation
The High Cost of Pa. K–12 Education Failures
Key Points The cost and risk of failure in our K–12 system is high. Low academic achievement is a predictor of lower lifetime incomes and higher costs for taxpayers. On…
Backgrounder
Read More: The High Cost of Pa. K–12 Education FailuresHealth Care
Landmark Bipartisan Telemedicine Reform Heads to Gov. Shapiro’s Desk
Harrisburg, Pa., June 26, 2024 — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 739—a bill to expand telemedicine access in the commonwealth—by a vote of 49 to 1. Previously passing…
Press Release
Read More: Landmark Bipartisan Telemedicine Reform Heads to Gov. Shapiro’s DeskEducation
Pennsylvania’s Budgetary Déjà Vu
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Pennsylvania’s budget battle feels oddly familiar – like we’ve been here before. Our sense of déjà vu is valid: The 2024–25 fiscal battle looks strikingly…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Budgetary Déjà VuEnergy
Energizing Federalism: Defending Pennsylvania from Anti-Energy Policies
Summary The Commonwealth Foundation joins several energy policy groups in two coalition letters opposing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) latest power plant rule and the PROVE IT Act.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Energizing Federalism: Defending Pennsylvania from Anti-Energy PoliciesEducation
A Pennsylvania Pastor Leads His Community’s Fight for Educational Freedom
Originally published at Reason Pastor Joshua Robertson didn’t set out to become a leader in the educational freedom movement, but when his community called, he answered. It was several…
Media Hit
Read More: A Pennsylvania Pastor Leads His Community’s Fight for Educational FreedomEducation
Pa. Dems education plans, spending explosion nod to teachers unions, special interests
Originally published at Delaware County Daily Times Jay-Z schooled Pennsylvania lawmakers on what’s wrong with education. Rather than call for another blank check for our state’s failing schools, the…
Media Hit
Read More: Pa. Dems education plans, spending explosion nod to teachers unions, special interestsEnergy
André Béliveau Breaks Down Bogus EPA Regulations on The Dawn Stensland Show
André Béliveau is the Senior Manager of Energy Policy at the Commonwealth Foundation and he joins us today to discuss his latest piece ‘New EPA Rule Is a Death Sentence…
Media Hit
Read More: André Béliveau Breaks Down Bogus EPA Regulations on The Dawn Stensland Show