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.”
Public Union Democracy
Taxpayer-Funded Strikes Would be Bad for All Pennsylvanians
Harrisburg, Pa., November 15, 2023 – The Commonwealth Foundation highlighted major problems with House Bill (HB) 1481. If passed, this legislation will provide unemployment benefits for striking workers, effectively forcing taxpayers…
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Pennsylvania exports a lot — especially bad political leadership
Originally published at Broad + Liberty As the nation’s sixth-largest manufacturing state, Pennsylvania exports a lot of things — from food and pharma to energy and defense. Unfortunately, as…
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RGGI’s downfall gives Shapiro a unique opportunity to create an energy policy that benefits the economy and environment
Originally published in The Morning Call The Commonwealth Court’s long-awaited decision against entry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative gives Gov. Josh Shapiro an incredible opportunity. RGGI, a debacle Shapiro…
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School Choice Report, Episode 21
Derrell Bradford is the president of 50CAN: The 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now. He leads communications and policy, and trains and recruits local leaders across the country to serve…
Podcast
Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 21Health Care
Commonwealth Foundation Report Charts Path Toward More Affordable, Accessible Health Care
Harrisburg, Pa., November 13, 2023 — Today, the Commonwealth Foundation released a new report outlining five ways to improve Pennsylvania’s health care system. The backgrounder, “The Personal Option for Health Care in…
Press Release
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Commonwealth Foundation CEO Charles Mitchell joins the Dawn Stensland Show on November 7, 2023
Commonwealth Foundation CEO Charles Mitchell discusses Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s shift on education policy. Topics on this pageCharles E. MitchellEducation policyJosh ShapiroPennsylvania…
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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation CEO Charles Mitchell joins the Dawn Stensland Show on November 7, 2023Health Care
The Personal Option for Health Care in Pennsylvania
Summary Keep and expand the health care systems that work: Protect Direct Primary Care (DPC) practices. Allow expanded Association Health Plans (AHPs) so small businesses can offer more affordable coverage.
Backgrounder
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Jennifer Stefano: Josh Shapiro is the least productive Pennsylvania governor of the last 50 years
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s lack of bipartisan leadership during his first nine months as governor has resulted in the passage of very few policy initiatives, notes Philadelphia Inquirer columnist…
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Josh Shapiro is the least productive Pennsylvania governor of the last 50 years
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania Republicans were in a lather last November after Josh Shapiro sailed into the governorship and Democrats took the state House of Representatives…
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Commonwealth Foundation Sr. VP Nathan Benefield on The Rich Zeoli Show November 2, 2023
Commonwealth Foundation Sr. Vice President Nathan Benefield joined The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss a Pennsylvania appellate court’s decision to prevent the state’s entrance into the Regional Green House Gas…
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Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Sr. VP Nathan Benefield on The Rich Zeoli Show November 2, 2023Regulation
Pennsylvania’s red tape is a red flag for would-be business owners
Originally published at Broad + Liberty When it comes to zip codes, Americans are dating around. The rise in remote work has changed how people choose their hometowns, allowing…
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Sen. Ward sees momentum for Lifeline Scholarships despite union pressure, state house turmoil
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Political figures are advancing unsustainable arguments about education, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, a Westmoreland County Republican, said in an interview. Wealthy…
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Commonwealth Foundation Applauds Appellate Court Decision to Strike Down RGGI
Harrisburg, Pa., November 1, 2023 — Commonwealth Foundation applauds the Commonwealth Court’s decision today to halt Pennsylvania’s entrance into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The appellate court rightly ruled that entry…
Press Release
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School Choice Report, Episode 20
Our guest in this episode is CEO and President of Pennsylvania Families for Education Choice Sharon Sedlar. She strongly believes that parents are uniquely qualified to make educational decisions for…
Podcast
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The nation is watching Gov. Shapiro; he should lead on educational freedom in Pennsylvania
Originally published at The Patriot-News The state has a public education system with students trapped in failing schools. The governor wants to create the school choice funding they…
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Unions are hurting taxpayers and Pennsylvania’s economy
Originally published at The Patriot-News The United Auto Workers (UAW) strike recently reached Dauphin County, with 145 employees at the Mack Trucks remanufacturing plant in Lower Swatara Township walking…
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Read More: Unions are hurting taxpayers and Pennsylvania’s economyRegulation
Regulatory Streamlining in Pennsylvania Would Boost Opportunities for State Residents
Introduction Good morning, members of the Senate Majority Policy Committee. My name is James Broughel and I am a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington DC, as…
Testimony
Read More: Regulatory Streamlining in Pennsylvania Would Boost Opportunities for State ResidentsPublic Union Democracy
Union Pandering Disguised as Railway Safety
Originally published at RealClearPolicy More workers have gone on strike in the first nine months of 2023 than in all of 2022. Philadelphia alone saw strikes at Temple University, Rutgers University,…
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Jennifer Stefano: Jewish donors and allies’ letters to Penn expose the moral rot in American higher education
University of Pennsylvania donors are withdrawing their financial support over the university’s failure to condemn as terrorism recent Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians, notes Philadelphia Inquirer columnist and Commonwealth…
Press Release
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Jewish donors and allies’ letters to Penn expose the moral rot in American higher education
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer In the past two weeks, several Jewish megadonors and their allies have thunderously announced that they are pulling financial support from their…
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Shapiro Must Reset His Legislative Strategy
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The recent sexual harassment scandal rocking Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration has made many headlines. And though Shapiro must take these accusations seriously, there could be a…
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