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
Why Families Like Cyber and Charter Schools
Nine-year-old Ashley Matunis and her sister, 6-year-old Anna (pictured right), are typical girls who enjoy pizza and pretzels. They are also typical of the kind of students who attend cyber…
Media
Read More: Why Families Like Cyber and Charter Schools
Pa. corrections system spends $49 million keeping non-violent inmates beyond minimum
Media Hit
Read More: Pa. corrections system spends $49 million keeping non-violent inmates beyond minimumCriminal Justice Reform
Corrections Coalition, Dynamic Duo Dandy Says Patriot
Hats off to the Patriot-News Editorial Board for calling for an end to the status quo approach to criminal justice that has failed Pennsylvanians. Today’s editorial highlights the dynamic…
Media
Read More: Corrections Coalition, Dynamic Duo Dandy Says PatriotCriminal Justice Reform
Commonsense Can Correct Corrections
Kyle, a convicted burglar sentenced to 1-3 years in Pennsylvania state prison, was granted parole in June 2011, but spent an extra 100 days in jail, not because he failed…
Commentary
Read More: Commonsense Can Correct CorrectionsRegulation
Pennsylvania’s Economy Struggles to Compete
In three separate studies on the state’s economic competitiveness and business climates, Pennsylvania remains near the bottom of the pack. The 2012 Alec-Laffer Economic Competitiveness Index, ranks states economic…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Economy Struggles to CompeteEducation
How to Fix What’s Broke in Education
Harrisburg Patriot-News columnist Nancy Eshelman rightly sounded the alarm Sunday on Pennsylvania’s public education system: It’s the same old story. Every spring, threats of higher taxes, slashed programs…
Media
Read More: How to Fix What’s Broke in Education
Corrections: Governor should heed coalition’s proposals
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Read More: Corrections: Governor should heed coalition’s proposals
Former Gov. Leader: Common sense can cut Pa. prison costs
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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Read More: Former Gov. Leader: Common sense can cut Pa. prison costsPublic Union Democracy
Pennsylvania’s Pension Iceberg
Laura Olson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a story on the crisis in Pennsylvania’s public pensions, and Gov. Corbett injecting pension reform into the budget discussion: Even with…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Pension IcebergEducation
Cal U Waste Begs for Higher Ed Reform
The Senate’s budget included more funding for state universities than Governor Corbett proposed, but new discoveries of wasteful spending should give lawmakers pause. Gov. Corbett proposed a 30 percent cut…
Media
Read More: Cal U Waste Begs for Higher Ed Reform
Gov. Corbett adds pension reform to budget agenda
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Read More: Gov. Corbett adds pension reform to budget agenda
Despite control, fractious state GOP allows reform to languish
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Read More: Despite control, fractious state GOP allows reform to languish
Privatizing liquor shops divides politicians
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Read More: Privatizing liquor shops divides politicians
An alternative to property taxes? Don’t celebrate just yet
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Read More: An alternative to property taxes? Don’t celebrate just yetEducation
Chart: School District Fund Balances Nearly Tripled in 14 Years
PA Independent reported on Monday that Pennsylvania school districts’ fund balances reached $3.2 billion in 2011 (they compiled the data from the PA Department of Education’s (PDE)…
Media
Read More: Chart: School District Fund Balances Nearly Tripled in 14 YearsRegulation
Taxpayers Screaming at PLCB Waste
Another day, another story of waste at the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. ABC 27’s Dennis Owens reports on the PLCB buying extravagant wine, then selling it at a discount…
Media
Read More: Taxpayers Screaming at PLCB WasteRegulation
Who Should Need the Government’s Permission to Work?
What's more dangerous, an incompetent barber or incompetent emergency medical worker? Most people would say and EMT, but a barber has to undergo almost nine times the hours of training…
Media
Read More: Who Should Need the Government’s Permission to Work?Regulation
Broken Bottle Booze Bonanza Baffles Bourbon Barons
Another day, another alliteration, another wasteful Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board practice uncovered by the media. This time, a hat tip to Ben Simmoneau of CBS 3 Philadelphia for his report…
Media
Read More: Broken Bottle Booze Bonanza Baffles Bourbon BaronsHealth Care
New Healthcare Regs Would Cost PA Taxpayers $50 Million
A bill on the floor of the state House would circumvent consumer freedom when it comes to prescription drugs. Many employers, including the state, encourage employees to buy less costly…
Media
Read More: New Healthcare Regs Would Cost PA Taxpayers $50 Million
Coalition seeks to streamline Pa. corrections
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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Read More: Coalition seeks to streamline Pa. corrections
Group questions spiraling costs of prisons in Pa.
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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Read More: Group questions spiraling costs of prisons in Pa.