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
Commonwealth Foundation Offers Gov. Shapiro Helping Hand to Deliver on Campaign Promises
Harrisburg, Pa., May 17, 2023 – The Commonwealth Foundation today kicked off an advocacy campaign called “Shapiro’s Promises” to generate support for bipartisan initiatives that Gov. Josh Shapiro committed…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Offers Gov. Shapiro Helping Hand to Deliver on Campaign PromisesEducation
Gov. Shapiro, Choose School Choice Over Union Power Grabs
Originally published at The American Spectator Pennsylvania’s government unions are reaping the benefits of their political donations, further inflating the costs of collective bargaining agreements — at taxpayers’ expense.
Media Hit
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School Choice Report, Episode 4
In this week’s School Choice Report, host David Hardy welcomes special guest Jeff Yass, co-founder and managing partner of Susquehanna International Group (SIG). Jeff is known for his unwavering support…
Podcast
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Commonwealth Foundation Announces Guy Ciarrocchi as New Policy Fellow
May 12, 2023, Harrisburg, Pa. – Former congressional candidate and president of the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, Guy Ciarrocchi, has joined the Commonwealth Foundation as a fellow,…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Announces Guy Ciarrocchi as New Policy FellowHealth Care
Expanding Health Care Access: The Easy Way
Key Findings Full practice authority for nurse practitioners (NPs) would increase the amount of time NPs can see patients by about 45 minutes each week.This translates into almost one more…
Executive Summary
Read More: Expanding Health Care Access: The Easy WayPublic Union Democracy
Public sector union employees deserve more power over their leadership
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer In a stunning admission of incompetence, Jerry Jordan, the boss of Pennsylvania’s largest teachers’ union, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, admitted he only…
Media Hit
Read More: Public sector union employees deserve more power over their leadershipPublic Union Democracy
These powerful unions helped flip the Pennsylvania House
Originally published in the Bucks County Courier Times Last November, Pennsylvania Democrats captured the state House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years. Behind the flip was…
Media Hit
Read More: These powerful unions helped flip the Pennsylvania HousePublic Union Democracy
Commonwealth Foundation’s Statement on House Passage of HB 950
May 3, 2023, Harrisburg, Pa.—Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill 950, a constitutional amendment that would create a new “fundamental right” to organize and collectively bargain…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation’s Statement on House Passage of HB 950Energy
Will Pennsylvania’s Governor See the Light on Energy or Follow Biden’s Lead?
Originally published in National Review Pennsylvania ranks among the leading energy producers in the nation and is our country’s No. 1 exporter of electricity. But radical environmentalists and…
Media Hit
Read More: Will Pennsylvania’s Governor See the Light on Energy or Follow Biden’s Lead?Public Union Democracy
HB 950: A Power Grab for Union Executives at the Expense of Workers
Summary House Bill 950 proposes an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution creating a “fundamental right to organize and bargain collectively” for both private and public sector employees.[1]The…
Fact Sheet
Read More: HB 950: A Power Grab for Union Executives at the Expense of WorkersPublic Union Democracy
Radical Union Leader Power Grab Advances in Pa. House
May 1, 2023, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Pennsylvania House Labor and Industry Committee today advances House Bill 950, a proposed constitutional amendment that would create a new “fundamental right”…
Press Release
Read More: Radical Union Leader Power Grab Advances in Pa. HouseCriminal Justice Reform
One act of love can reform a system failing juvenile offenders
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Aqilah David’s journey began with an act of love. Living alone with her 10-year-old brother and 6-year-old sister — partially due to adults…
Media Hit
Read More: One act of love can reform a system failing juvenile offendersPublic Union Democracy
Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry Committee Testimony on HB 950
Chairmen Dawkins and Mackenzie: Good afternoon. Thanks to Chairmen Dawkins and Mackenzie for the invitation to testify on this resolution, and thanks to the rest of the committee for your…
Testimony
Read More: Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry Committee Testimony on HB 950
Bipartisan Support for Education Reforms
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania In Pennsylvania, divides over public education remain constant. The debates range from school funding disputes to curriculum fights, from arguments over critical race theory and…
Media Hit
Read More: Bipartisan Support for Education ReformsEnergy
Environmental Bootleggers and Baptists Fleece Consumers
Originally published at RealClearEnergy The “Bootleggers and Baptists” of Pennsylvania’s energy markets cost consumers and taxpayers billions while undermining the state’s economy and power grid. Bruce Yandle, an economist, …
Commentary
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School Choice Report, Episode 3
There have been countless battles for the right to properly educate, give agency to, and give education access to Black children. In this episode, Dr. Howard Fuller continues the conversation…
Podcast
Read More: School Choice Report, Episode 3Energy
Save the Homer City power plant
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette During his campaign, Gov. Josh Shapiro expressed concern over a new carbon tax initiated by his predecessor, Tom Wolf, noting the impact on…
Commentary
Read More: Save the Homer City power plantPublic Union Democracy
Teacher Unions Pick Politics Over Students and Teachers
Originally published at The American Spectator There’s a war brewing in education — and it’s not just on parents. It’s on the teachers themselves — and the same unions…
Commentary
Read More: Teacher Unions Pick Politics Over Students and TeachersTaxes & Economy
We Need to Stop Chasing Residents Out of the State With High Taxes
Originally published at Delaware Valley Journal Every April, Pennsylvanians are reminded of their crushing tax burden—one of the highest in the nation. And a growing number of Pennsylvanians have…
Commentary
Read More: We Need to Stop Chasing Residents Out of the State With High TaxesEducation
Commonwealth Foundation’s Jennifer Stefano on OAN 4.12.2023
Commonwealth Foundation’s Jennifer Stefano appeared on OAN to discuss the findings of the Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll. Topics on this pageOpinion…
Media
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation’s Jennifer Stefano on OAN 4.12.2023Welfare
Unwinding Medicaid Continuous Enrollment
Summary On April 1, Pennsylvania returned to normal Medicaid eligibility rules and began a year-long process of redetermining eligibility for all 3.68 million beneficiaries.Medicaid spending grows faster than our state…
Fact Sheet
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