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
It’s time to get progressive about education
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Requis Sherby’s recent Inquirer op-ed about escaping public school bullying as a nonbinary and bisexual student resonates with me. I was bullied,…
Media Hit
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70% of Pennsylvanians believe the state is going in the wrong direction, something that may affect their vote: poll
Originally published at The Patriot -News Nearly seven in 10 Pennsylvanians believe Pennsylvania is headed in the wrong direction and a majority believe the state’s business climate…
Media Hit
Read More: 70% of Pennsylvanians believe the state is going in the wrong direction, something that may affect their vote: poll
New Poll Shows Pennsylvanians Demand a New Path Forward Post-Primary
68% say things in Pennsylvania have “pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track” More than 8-in-10 respondents support overhauling education, taxes, and employee rights Commonwealth Foundation’s…
Media Hit
Read More: New Poll Shows Pennsylvanians Demand a New Path Forward Post-PrimaryEducation
HB 2169: Lifeline Scholarship Program
Overview The Pennsylvania House passed the Lifeline Scholarship Program bill on April 27, 2022. House Bill 2169, if passed by the Senate and signed by the governor, offers an…
Fact Sheet
Read More: HB 2169: Lifeline Scholarship ProgramHealth Care
Nursing shortage can be fixed by speeding up the licensing process
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania is currently enduring one ofthe worst nurse shortages in the nation. A shocking one in four nursing positions went unfilled…
Media Hit
Read More: Nursing shortage can be fixed by speeding up the licensing processPublic Union Democracy
Pennsylvania Teachers’ Unions Get Schooled in the First Amendment
Originally published at National Review In a landmark First Amendment ruling delivered in 2018, the Supreme Court held in Janus v. AFSCME that public-sector unions could not…
Media Hit
Read More: Pennsylvania Teachers’ Unions Get Schooled in the First AmendmentTaxes & Economy
Inflation’s cause? It’s the spending, stupid.
Originally published in The Patriot-News Voters, nationally and within Pennsylvania, consistently rank inflation as their top concern. It’s no surprise. Consumer prices have jumped 8.3 percent in…
Media Hit
Read More: Inflation’s cause? It’s the spending, stupid.
Why it may be easier than ever for Trump to be elected by Pa. voters
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Dearest progressive reader, because I care about your well-being (if not your worldview), I urge you to pull up the fainting couch before…
Media Hit
Read More: Why it may be easier than ever for Trump to be elected by Pa. votersPublic Union Democracy
Wisconsin’s union law worked. Now it’s Pennsylvania’s turn.
Originally published at The Philadelphia Inquirer Talk about unions is heating up. Just look at Amazon and Starbucks. Bernie Sanders says that Democrats need to encourage…
Media Hit
Read More: Wisconsin’s union law worked. Now it’s Pennsylvania’s turn.Energy
Putin’s Useful Idiots: How U.S. Climate Extremists Are Funding Russia’s Agenda
Originally published at The Federalist Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is illuminating an ugly truth: the anti-fracking war on America’s energy security is being waged by well-funded, radical U.S. environmental…
Media Hit
Read More: Putin’s Useful Idiots: How U.S. Climate Extremists Are Funding Russia’s AgendaEnergy
RGGI Update: Pennsylvania Legislature Resists
Originally published at Capital Research Center While regulatory relief efforts gather steam in Virginia, lawmakers in Pennsylvania are taking notice. Aptly named the Keystone State for the crucial role…
Media Hit
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Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano appears on Newsmax on May 10, 2022
Topics include the housing market, private businesses doing more for Ukraine than the U.N., and more! Topics on this pageNewsmax TVUkraineUnited Nations…
Media Hit
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Executive VP Jennifer Stefano appears on Newsmax on May 10, 2022Regulation
Disconnected politicians lose those who ‘vote their jobs’
Originally published at Pittsburg Tribune-Review After a protracted battle with lawmakers, Gov. Tom Wolf’s unilateral push to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) now moves forward. At risk…
Media Hit
Read More: Disconnected politicians lose those who ‘vote their jobs’Regulation
As the UN Falters, Can Capitalism Stop Russia?
Originally published in Newsweek Where is the United Nations? The international behemoth’s charter mandates that it “maintain international peace and security.” Despite sucking up billions of American taxpayer dollars…
Media Hit
Read More: As the UN Falters, Can Capitalism Stop Russia?Education
Bucks County parents unravel Covid-19 policies while boosting school choice proposals
Originally published in Broad + Liberty Bucks County parents who made efficient use of Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know law during the Covid-19 pandemic have helped to make the case for school choice.
Media Hit
Read More: Bucks County parents unravel Covid-19 policies while boosting school choice proposalsRegulation
Earth Day Activists Ignore Big Wind’s ‘Carnage’ for Eagles
Originally published in The Daily Signal Earth Day came and went April 22 without self-described environmentalists and their allies in the media devoting much, if any, attention to the…
Media Hit
Read More: Earth Day Activists Ignore Big Wind’s ‘Carnage’ for EaglesEducation
Pa. House Passes Lifeline Scholarship Bill
April 27, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, the Pennsylvania House passed a bill to offer Lifeline Scholarships to students in underperforming school districts. House Bill 2169, sponsored by Reps.
Press Release
Read More: Pa. House Passes Lifeline Scholarship BillEducation
Our students need a ‘lifeline’ and HB 2169 is it
Originally published in the Bucks County Courier Times This month, the Pennsylvania House has been abuzz with anticipation of a vote on Lifeline Scholarship Program, or …
Media Hit
Read More: Our students need a ‘lifeline’ and HB 2169 is itTaxes & Economy
Stagnant Pennsylvania Economy Requires Real Business-Tax Reform
Originally published at RealClearPolicy In his final annual budget address, Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf proposed a major reduction in the state’s corporate income tax. Wolf’s tax-cut plan may come…
Media Hit
Read More: Stagnant Pennsylvania Economy Requires Real Business-Tax ReformEnergy
How Big Green Undermines Pennsylvania’s Energy Potential
Originally published at RealClearEnergy Pennsylvania sits at the epicenter of what is aptly described as America’s “natural gas revolution,” which is why the state is well positioned to help free…
Media Hit
Read More: How Big Green Undermines Pennsylvania’s Energy PotentialRegulation
MI and PA Lockdowns Show the High Price of Government Overreach
Originally published at RealClearHealth It’s official, COVID-19 is no longer a crisis. According to a recent Axios poll, only nine percent of Americans believe COVID is a serious crisis.
Media Hit
Read More: MI and PA Lockdowns Show the High Price of Government Overreach