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
School Choice: The ABC’s
In time for National School Choice Week, the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice released its 2012 ABC’s of School Choice. The new guide gives an overview of what…
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Is the EPA Frackophobic?
The Environmental Protection Agency is now delivering water to homes in Dimock, Pa., even though Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection says it’s not needed. Here’s the background: In…
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City can find only one fire truck bid request
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Read More: City can find only one fire truck bid requestCriminal Justice Reform
Fiscal Outlook for Pennsylvania: Not Too Rosy
This week the new Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office held its first annual seminar on the state economy and revenue. After a series of presentations on the state of the…
Media
Read More: Fiscal Outlook for Pennsylvania: Not Too RosyCriminal Justice Reform
Corrections Reform: Another Sacred Cow?
Our friends at Reason.org have called out Pennsylvania lawmakers’ opposition to prison healthcare reform, calling it yet another public sector union sacred cow. At issue is House…
Media
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Want to Help PA’s Kids?
With the 10-year anniversary of No Child Left Behind recently passing, the $20.7 million bailout for Chester-Upland School District, and students in Neshaminy sitting at home while…
Media
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Frothing Frackaphobes Fermenting Fear
Courtesy of John Micek’s daily must-read blog Capitol Ideas comes a post on an Esquire magazine article articulating the latest lunacy foisted by phobic fracking fact foes furiously fomenting…
Media
Read More: Frothing Frackaphobes Fermenting FearEducation
Ponderous PSEA, Virulent Violence Verified
Last December, the Commonwealth Foundation urged lawmakers to offer kids in Pennsylvania’s worst violent, failing schools a lifeline, and give them school choice for Christmas. We delivered bouquets of 17…
Media
Read More: Ponderous PSEA, Virulent Violence VerifiedTaxes & Economy
Impact Fee: Compromise on Details, not Principles
Capitolwire reports (subscription required) on the negotiations between the House and Senate Marcellus Shale impact fee bills — HB 1950 and SB 1100. Here’s a recap: The fee…
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Read More: Impact Fee: Compromise on Details, not PrinciplesTaxes & Economy
Will Anti-Gas Political Climate Prevent 10,000 Jobs?
U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey, along with Gov. Tom Corbett, have been lobbying for Shell to invest their petroleum chemistry plant, known as a “cracker”…
Media
Read More: Will Anti-Gas Political Climate Prevent 10,000 Jobs?Criminal Justice Reform
Time for Pennsylvania to Get Right on Crime
Last week on NPR, former U.S. Attorney General and Pennsylvania Gov. Dick Thornburgh joined Adam Gelb, director for Pew’s Public Safety Performance Project, to discuss criminal justice…
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Competition for students will improve education
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Pa. has proposal on prevailing wage reforms
Topics on this page Pennsylvania…
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Read More: Pa. has proposal on prevailing wage reformsEducation
Bring Choice to Chester-Upland
Chester-Upland, a chronically failing and bankrupt school district of 3,700 students in Delaware County, last week filed a federal suit against the commonwealth to demand a $20.7 million bailout…
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The Education Monopoly Comandeers CNN
The Reading School District was featured on CNN this weekend, but not for anything positive. Reporters documented the poor air quality caused by crumbling school buildings across the nation.
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Read More: The Education Monopoly Comandeers CNNEducation
Crisis vs. Competition in Education
Here are two views on school choice, the idea that fostering a variety of schooling options for families—whether public, charter, cyber or private—is a good thing: School choice is a…
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PLCB Quips Curing Cancer Can’t Combat Critics
In a recent interview on Harrisburg’s ABC-27, PLCB board member P.J. Stapleton III clarified once again why we frequently refer to the PLCB as tone deaf. Speaking with…
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Read More: PLCB Quips Curing Cancer Can’t Combat Critics
Poll: 81% Choose Bootlegging Over PLCB Hikes
So just what effects do monopolies have on markets? You need look no further than Philadelphia this morning for the answer. An online Philadelphia Inquirer poll has found more…
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Read More: Poll: 81% Choose Bootlegging Over PLCB Hikes
Less booze for your buck at state stores
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