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.”
Government Accountability
Governor Shapiro’s ‘Project Labor Agreements’ Nothing More Than Another Campaign Donor Handout
Harrisburg, Pa., March 27, 2024 — Today, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced an executive order to require project labor agreements (PLAs) for government projects—a move that, once again, prioritizes campaign donors over Pennsylvania’s…
Press Release
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s ‘Project Labor Agreements’ Nothing More Than Another Campaign Donor HandoutEnergy
Pennsylvania Governor Flirts with Reckless ‘Green’ Initiatives
Originally published at National Review In efforts to keep the war drums of climate alarmism beating, Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro is employing one reckless acronym after another: RGGI, PACER, and…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Governor Flirts with Reckless ‘Green’ InitiativesEnergy
Shapiro’s Senseless Expansion of Alternative Energy
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal In 2004, Pennsylvania implemented one of the most aggressive mandates to adopt wind and solar energy. At the time, less than 1 percent…
Media Hit
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André Béliveau on the Dawn Stensland Show 3.25.2024
A significant majority of Pennsylvania voters (80 percent) say their household energy bills have increased over the past two years, including 34 percent who say their bills have increased “a…
Media Hit
Read More: André Béliveau on the Dawn Stensland Show 3.25.2024Energy
Avoiding Deadly Blackouts
Summary Pennsylvania urgently needs a plan to restore grid reliability and prevent electricity blackouts from extreme cold weather. Winter Storm Elliot in 2022 almost brought widespread blackouts, but it was…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Avoiding Deadly BlackoutsEnergy
Shapiro’s Carbon Tax Plan Is Unnecessary, Unpopular and Harmful
Originally published in Real Clear Pennsylvania. Governor Josh Shapiro announced…
Media Hit
Read More: Shapiro’s Carbon Tax Plan Is Unnecessary, Unpopular and HarmfulEnergy
Biden Is Low-Energy … And It Has Nothing To Do With His Age
Originally published at The Daily Caller President Joe Biden lacks energy — and no, this isn’t another hit piece about his age. The president has yet to produce a…
Media Hit
Read More: Biden Is Low-Energy … And It Has Nothing To Do With His AgeEnergy
Pa. Voters Hit Hard by High Energy Costs, Say Energy Affordability is Important to their 2024 Vote
Harrisburg, Pa., March 19, 2024 — A significant majority of Pennsylvania voters (80 percent) say their household energy bills have increased over the past two years, including 34 percent who say…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Voters Hit Hard by High Energy Costs, Say Energy Affordability is Important to their 2024 VoteEducation
How I became an advocate for school choice
Originally published at Broad + Liberty School choice opponents typically have never needed or wanted an alternative to public schools. I should know: I was one of them. As…
Media Hit
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Governor Shapiro’s Disastrous Carbon Tax Hurts Families, Breaks Promises
Harrisburg, Pa., March 13, 2024 — Today, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced plans for an economy-wide “cap-and-invest” carbon pricing program, the Pennsylvania Climate Emissions Reduction Act (PACER)—a massive new tax that would substantially…
Press Release
Read More: Governor Shapiro’s Disastrous Carbon Tax Hurts Families, Breaks PromisesPublic Union Democracy
Government Union PAC Spending in 2023
Summary Pennsylvania government union political action committees (PACs) spent $5.6 million in 2023, a record high for an odd-year election where there is not a presidential or midterm election. Of…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Government Union PAC Spending in 2023Education
Higher Education in Pennsylvania
Summary Pennsylvania owns and operates 10 universities under the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE); subsidizes four state-related universities (which function as public-private partnerships); 15 community…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Higher Education in PennsylvaniaEducation
Lies, damn lies, and two weeks to flatten the curve
Originally published at Broad + Liberty March 13: the fourth anniversary of Pennsylvania’s “two weeks to flatten the curve.” Governor Tom Wolf issued his first executive order, closing all…
Media Hit
Read More: Lies, damn lies, and two weeks to flatten the curvePublic Union Democracy
State of the Unions: Examining Union Membership in State Government
Key Findings Public sector labor unions in 33 states represent state government employees, a segment of overall public sector employment, for purposes of collective bargaining. For this research, 27 of…
Executive Summary
Read More: State of the Unions: Examining Union Membership in State GovernmentPublic Union Democracy
Public Sector Unions are Most Prominent Where Workers’ Rights are Limited
Harrisburg, Pa., March 11, 2024 — Overall union membership is declining in America, but the same is not true for public sector unions. Across the United States, 43.5 percent of state government…
Press Release
Read More: Public Sector Unions are Most Prominent Where Workers’ Rights are LimitedState Budget
Corporate Welfare Is Rampant Throughout Governor Shapiro’s Proposed Budget
Harrisburg, Pa., March 7, 2024 — Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2024–25 budget funnels $1.49 billion of taxpayer money to corporate welfare programs that have repeatedly failed to improve Pennsylvania’s economic competitiveness,…
Press Release
Read More: Corporate Welfare Is Rampant Throughout Governor Shapiro’s Proposed BudgetState Budget
Corporate Welfare in the 2024–25 Budget
Summary Pennsylvania’s economy is largely uncompetitive, with the state routinely losing businesses and residents to more economically competitive states like Florida, North Carolina, and Texas. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposes…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Corporate Welfare in the 2024–25 BudgetPublic Union Democracy
Season 1 Premier Featuring Professor Michael Hartney
How did teachers unions morph from representing teachers’ needs to some of the largest special interest and politically active organizations in our country? In the series premier of Disunion: The…
Podcast
Read More: Season 1 Premier Featuring Professor Michael HartneyRegulation
Stefano: Occupational licensing holds Pennsylvania back
Hairdressers and make-up artists alike have to deal with excessive and onerous government regulations to earn a living, explains Commonwealth Foundation Executive Vice President and Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Jennifer Stefano in her recent …
Press Release
Read More: Stefano: Occupational licensing holds Pennsylvania backRegulation
Occupational licensing holds Pennsylvanians back
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Jasmine is an artist, and her face is her canvas. She has skin so flawless you couldn’t find a pore with a Hubble…
Media Hit
Read More: Occupational licensing holds Pennsylvanians backEducation
Season 2 Premier featuring Professor Robert Strauss
Get ready to dive into the electrifying SEASON 2 premiere of School Choice Report! Join your host, the dynamic David Hardy, as he engages in a riveting conversation with none…
Podcast
Read More: Season 2 Premier featuring Professor Robert Strauss