Erik Telford

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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

Shapiro’s campaign promises offer blueprint for bipartisanship

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 16, 2022

Originally published in The Patriot-News In the past few months, Pennsylvanians have seen their share of negative ads making radical claims—that one party is hell-bent on destroying democracy…

Media Hit

Read More: Shapiro’s campaign promises offer blueprint for bipartisanship

Health Care

Report: Access to Health Care in Pa. Stymied by Restrictive State Laws

  • November 15, 2022

Harrisburg, PA – A new report from the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s leading free-market public policy research organization, found that Pennsylvania state laws that restrict the work of advanced practice…

Press Release

Read More: Report: Access to Health Care in Pa. Stymied by Restrictive State Laws

Health Care

How Full Practice Authority Can Increase Access and Improve Outcomes

  • November 15, 2022

Key Findings Marylanders in border counties have better health care outcomes, including fewer residents reporting fair or poor health and fewer residents with poor mental health days.Before full practice authority,…

Report

Read More: How Full Practice Authority Can Increase Access and Improve Outcomes

Taxes & Economy

Pa.’s corporate welfare for select businesses keeps the state down

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 14, 2022

Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Just before the end of the legislative season, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed a package of tax credits that will, over time, dole out $2…

Media Hit

Read More: Pa.’s corporate welfare for select businesses keeps the state down

Liberty is the only good we all truly share in common

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 6, 2022

Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette On election day, we focus on our differences, but at the core of the American experience is one unifying idea: That all people…

Media Hit

Read More: Liberty is the only good we all truly share in common

Education

Pittsburgh students need educational freedom, not more special interest funding

  • David P. Hardy
  • November 4, 2022

Pennsylvania’s leading gubernatorial candidates both support Lifeline Scholarships, a proposal to give students in underperforming schools around $7,000 in education funding. This is good news for Pittsburgh students, especially for those…

Media Hit

Read More: Pittsburgh students need educational freedom, not more special interest funding

Taxes & Economy

Inflation is killing small business

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • November 4, 2022

Originally published at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Deeanna Hilliard closed her bakery in August. Gluten Free by D&D in Volant had survived pandemic restrictions and persistent worker shortages, but it…

Media Hit

Read More: Inflation is killing small business

Public Union Democracy

Weingarten tour can’t rewrite years of learning losses

  • Nathan Benefield
  • November 4, 2022

Originally published at Broad + Liberty The American Federation of Teachers’ get-out-the-vote bus tour began its Pennsylvania leg in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The tour, designed to bolster left-wing candidates, comes…

Media Hit

Read More: Weingarten tour can’t rewrite years of learning losses

Government Accountability

Frequently Asked Q&A About Election Integrity in Pennsylvania

  • November 4, 2022

It’s time for all registered Pennsylvanians to exercise our civic duty and head out to vote on Tuesday, November 8th. With public opinion polls showing a lack of confidence…

Research

Read More: Frequently Asked Q&A About Election Integrity in Pennsylvania

Criminal Justice Reform

Keeping kids in the community improves public safety

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • October 28, 2022

Originally published at City & State Pennsylvania Reforming the juvenile justice system is personal for Philadelphia native Jon Kelly.   “I cycled through several youth detention centers,”…

Media Hit

Read More: Keeping kids in the community improves public safety

Welfare

Pa’s Wayward Welfare State

  • October 27, 2022

Summary Policies that expanded Medicaid eligibility to healthy, working-aged people and do not require the verification of eligibility have expanded the size and complexity of a program designed to focus…

Fact Sheet

Read More: Pa’s Wayward Welfare State

Energy

The Dangers of Environmental, Social, and Governance Mandates

  • Gordon Tomb
  • October 27, 2022

*This testimony was requested by the House Commerce Committee for a hearing that did not occur.* Chairman Roae, Chairman Galloway and members of the House Commerce Committee, thank you for…

Testimony

Read More: The Dangers of Environmental, Social, and Governance Mandates

Regulation

‘Buzzkill’ School Boards Are Canceling Halloween

  • Jennifer Stefano
  • October 24, 2022

Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Earlier this month, the Lower Merion school board canceled the district’s Halloween parades — ending a tradition that’s been around for more…

Media Hit

Read More: ‘Buzzkill’ School Boards Are Canceling Halloween

Energy

Latest RGGI Lawsuit Highlights Increases in Electricity Prices

  • Gordon Tomb
  • October 21, 2022

Originally published in the Delaware Valley Journal Already struggling to cope with higher energy bills, Pennsylvanians are now experiencing double-digit rate hikes this fall. In September, some suppliers increased…

Media Hit

Read More: Latest RGGI Lawsuit Highlights Increases in Electricity Prices

Education

Extracurriculars Keep Our Students Safe

  • David P. Hardy
  • October 21, 2022

Originally published at The Philadelphia Citizen The murder outside the Roxborough High School and Boys’ Latin junior varsity football scrimmage is a heinous tragedy. Five teenagers were shot,…

Media Hit

Read More: Extracurriculars Keep Our Students Safe

Government Accountability

PA Is the Epicenter of Democrats’ Political Spending

  • Nathan Benefield
  • October 19, 2022

Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro’s overflowing campaign coffers underscore the importance of Pennsylvania to national politics—and the influence of government unions in elections. With four…

Media Hit

Read More: PA Is the Epicenter of Democrats’ Political Spending