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
If Student Enrollment Is Down, Why Are Some School Districts On A Hiring Spree?
Originally published at The Federalist As students head back to school this year, it’s difficult to ignore the nationwide claims of teacher shortages, with special interest groups blaming underfunding. …
Media Hit
Read More: If Student Enrollment Is Down, Why Are Some School Districts On A Hiring Spree?Taxes & Economy
We’re in a recession – despite any rosy indicators
Originally published at City & State PA Is the economy in a recession? Facts tell us yes – regardless of what the Biden administration claims. Real U.S. gross domestic…
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David Hardy discusses educational opportunity on The Dom Giordano Program
Topics on this pageCharter schoolDavid HardyEducation reform…
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Read More: David Hardy discusses educational opportunity on The Dom Giordano ProgramTaxes & Economy
Jennifer Stefano appears on Wilkow! August 31, 2022
Topics on this pagePolitical Commentary…
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Read More: Jennifer Stefano appears on Wilkow! August 31, 2022Education
David Hardy discusses educational opportunity in Pennsylvania on Fox & Friends
Commonwealth Foundation Distinguished Senior Fellow David P. Hardy discusses educational opportunity in Pennsylvania on Fox & Friends. Topics on this pageEducation reformFox & FriendsPennsylvania…
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Read More: David Hardy discusses educational opportunity in Pennsylvania on Fox & FriendsEducation
Pennsylvania Schools Have a Student Shortage: Districts on Hiring Spree Even as Enrollment Falls
Harrisburg, PA – The Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s leading free-market public policy research organization, reported today that despite declining public school enrollments, Keystone State school funding has significantly increased fueling a significant…
Press Release
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Pa.’s telemedicine waivers create confusion
Read more at The Philadelphia Inquirer April Hynes of Bucks County was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in August 2020. In what feels like a previous life…
Media Hit
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Pa. Back to School Education Trends
Overview As students head back to school, there are many claims of teacher shortages and funding shortfalls. In reality, public school spending is at a record high and Pennsylvania ranks…
Report
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Why parents are choosing Black-led charter schools
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer For years, Black parents in Philadelphia have been pulling their kids out of traditional public schools and enrolling them in charters. As of…
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Read More: Why parents are choosing Black-led charter schoolsTaxes & Economy
Families Need a Rein on Inflation, Not Shortsighted Spending Gimmicks
Originally published at RealClearPennsylvania The Consumer Price Index (CPI) hit a 40-year high in June, with an increase of 9.1% over last year before holding steady in July. According…
Media Hit
Read More: Families Need a Rein on Inflation, Not Shortsighted Spending GimmicksEnergy
Corporate Welfare, No Boost to Business Climate
Summary Pennsylvania’s economy continues to struggle. In June, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate reached 4.5 percent, the fifth highest in the nation.[1], [2] As of June…
Fact Sheet
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The Inflation Reduction Act Won’t Reduce Inflation
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer If you think inflation is sufficiently painful, gird your loins. The Biden administration is about to foist the “Inflation Reduction Act” upon us.
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Read More: The Inflation Reduction Act Won’t Reduce InflationEnergy
LinkedIn Silences Climate Skeptics While Biden Pushes Expensive Green Schemes
Originally published at RealClearEnergy Be careful about circulating scientific data that debunks the assumptions standing behind costly climate change policies. Otherwise, technology companies reserve the right to muzzle those…
Media Hit
Read More: LinkedIn Silences Climate Skeptics While Biden Pushes Expensive Green SchemesEnergy
What Democrats get wrong about climate change
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Dear Democrats: On the environment, you need to win over people like me. You’re concerned about climate change. It’s one of your defining…
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Pennsylvania’s losing economically to other states
Originally published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Like so many Pennsylvanians, I’ve had to say goodbye to another dear friend who left our commonwealth on the promise of work. The…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania’s losing economically to other statesCriminal Justice Reform
Juvenile Justice Reform
Key Points The Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Task Force (Task Force) found most youth entering the juvenile justice system committed low-level offenses and are “low risk to reoffend.”[1]Studies…
Backgrounder
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$2,000 Stimulus Payments Will Drive Excessive Spending and Inflation
August 2, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, Gov. Tom Wolf joined Democrat lawmakers in again calling for $2,000 direct payments to Pennsylvanians, this time using General Fund state tax…
Press Release
Read More: $2,000 Stimulus Payments Will Drive Excessive Spending and InflationEnergy
Pennsylvania Avoids a Disastrous Green New Deal Policy—For Now
Originally published at Newsweek Pennsylvanians are, for the moment, protected from high costs of a “Green New Deal” initiative being pushed by Governor Tom Wolf via executive order. Earlier…
Media Hit
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Fetterman should focus less on comedy, more on inflation and policy
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer There’s one person who’s treating his bid for the U.S. Senate like an entertainment opportunity, and it’s not the guy who used to…
Media Hit
Read More: Fetterman should focus less on comedy, more on inflation and policyEducation
The historic expansion of tax credit scholarships is a win for our kids
Originally published in The Patriot-News Pennsylvania’s new state budget includes a historic $125 million expansion of two successful scholarship programs—the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and the Opportunity Scholarship…
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How to end cancel culture
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Austin Davis, who’s in the running to become Pennsylvania’s first Black lieutenant governor, said reprehensible things a decade ago. They’re degrading and…
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