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.”
Taxes & Economy
Jennifer Stefano on Wake Up America on Newsmax 1.30.2022
Commonwealth Foundation’s Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano discusses the airline industry’s struggles with vaccine mandates. Topics on this pageNewsmax TV…
Media Hit
Read More: Jennifer Stefano on Wake Up America on Newsmax 1.30.2022Taxes & Economy
Jennifer Stefano on Wake Up America on Newsmax 1.29.2022
Commonwealth Foundation’s Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano discusses President Biden’s meeting with business leaders over his progressive agenda. Topics on this pageEconomic policy of the Biden administration…
Media Hit
Read More: Jennifer Stefano on Wake Up America on Newsmax 1.29.2022Public Union Democracy
Op-Ed: Paycheck protection needed to prevent government payroll from funding partisan political activism
Originally published at Broad + Liberty Under Pennsylvania law, government agencies are permitted to use taxpayer resources to collect and distribute political campaign money on behalf of public employee unions.
Media Hit
Read More: Op-Ed: Paycheck protection needed to prevent government payroll from funding partisan political activismEducation
Op-Ed: Chicago’s Lessons for Philadelphia Schools
Originally published in The Philadelphia Citizen At 8 years old, my Saturday haunt was the North Philadelphia Woolworths five and dime on 25th and Lehigh. I would prowl the…
Media Hit
Read More: Op-Ed: Chicago’s Lessons for Philadelphia SchoolsPublic Union Democracy
Op-Ed: Free Speech Suit against Teacher’s Union Could Boost Labor Reform
Originally printed in the Delaware Valley Journal A Pennsylvania court may strike down a labor law that is clearly unconstitutional, but elected officials shouldn’t wait on the legal system to…
Media Hit
Read More: Op-Ed: Free Speech Suit against Teacher’s Union Could Boost Labor ReformGovernment Accountability
Four Bills Would Empower Workers & Protect Taxpayer Resources
January 25, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — Four bills approved by the House Labor and Industry Committee Tuesday could soon bring several key public-sector labor reforms to a House vote. Lawmakers…
Press Release
Read More: Four Bills Would Empower Workers & Protect Taxpayer ResourcesState Budget
Op-Ed: Pa.’s out-of-control spending is driving away residents
Originally published in the Pittsiburgh Tribune-Review Gov. Tom Wolf recently declared 2022 a “magical year” for the Pennsylvania budget, citing the possibility of a surplus. However, Pennsylvania’s Independent Fiscal…
Media Hit
Read More: Op-Ed: Pa.’s out-of-control spending is driving away residentsEducation
Pa. Senate Committee Passes School Choice Bill
January 19, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — Today, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee approved a bill to expand Pennsylvania’s successful and popular tax credit scholarship programs. SB 527, sponsored by Sen. Mike…
Press Release
Read More: Pa. Senate Committee Passes School Choice BillEducation
Commonwealth Foundation Files Amicus Brief in Education Funding Lawsuit
January 19, 2022, Harrisburg, Pa. — The Commonwealth Foundation has filed an amicus brief in an ongoing lawsuit over how Pennsylvania funds public schools. The brief argues, contrary to the plaintiffs’ depiction,…
Press Release
Read More: Commonwealth Foundation Files Amicus Brief in Education Funding LawsuitGovernment Accountability
Op-Ed: How officials use tax dollars in lobbying efforts
Originally published in the PIttsburgh Post-Gazette Used-car salesmen, members of Congress and telemarketers all rank near the bottom of least-trusted professions. The lowest, however, is lobbyist. For decades, media and…
Media Hit
Read More: Op-Ed: How officials use tax dollars in lobbying effortsGovernment Accountability
Op-Ed: Gerrymandering won’t save unpopular candidates
Originally published in Pittsburgh Tribune-Review With state and congressional redistricting underway in Harrisburg, many politicians have blamed “partisan gerrymandering” for past election losses. But this is another instance when the…
Media Hit
Read More: Op-Ed: Gerrymandering won’t save unpopular candidatesCriminal Justice Reform
Why Pennsylvania Needs Probation Reform
Pennsylvania has an overburdened probation system that delivers substandard results. The commonwealth’s recidivism rate is 41 percent—one of the highest in the nation.
Backgrounder
Read More: Why Pennsylvania Needs Probation ReformCriminal Justice Reform
Op-Ed: The First Step Act Is A Giant Leap Toward Meaningful, Bipartisan Prison Reform
Criminal justice reform is not about being softer on crime. It’s about a smarter approach to our justice system and our prisons — focusing resources on protecting public safety.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: The First Step Act Is A Giant Leap Toward Meaningful, Bipartisan Prison ReformGovernment Accountability
Study: Pa. Taxpayers on Hook for at Least $42 Million in Lobbying Costs
December 6, 2021, Harrisburg, Pa.—Pennsylvania taxpayers paid for at least $42 million in lobbying expenses from 2007–2020, according to two reports released today by the Commonwealth Foundation. The $42 million…
Press Release
Read More: Study: Pa. Taxpayers on Hook for at Least $42 Million in Lobbying CostsTaxes & Economy
Jennifer Stefano discusses President Biden causing market uncertainty on Fox Business
Commonwealth Foundation's Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano discusses the market uncertainty caused by President Biden's progressive policies. Topics on this page Economic policy of the Biden…
Media
Read More: Jennifer Stefano discusses President Biden causing market uncertainty on Fox BusinessPublic Union Democracy
Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Unions Ignore SCOTUS Ruling, Keep Forcing Teachers To Pay Dues
Until recently, those rights had been subjugated to the commonwealth’s labor laws, which allow unions to charge nonmembers “fair share fees” as a condition of their employment.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Pennsylvania Unions Ignore SCOTUS Ruling, Keep Forcing Teachers To Pay DuesEducation
Op-Ed: School Choice Is the Fix for Pennsylvania’s Broken Education System
Pennsylvania’s public education system is broken, according to a lawyer in the historic education-funding lawsuit currently underway in the state’s Commonwealth Court.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: School Choice Is the Fix for Pennsylvania’s Broken Education SystemGovernment Accountability
How Pa. Governments Use Tax Dollars to Pay Associations to Lobby
Prohibiting local governments and government agencies from diverting public funds to these associations would increase transparency and prevent taxpayers’ dollars from funding lobbying harmful to taxpayers.
Backgrounder
Read More: How Pa. Governments Use Tax Dollars to Pay Associations to LobbyGovernment Accountability
How Pa. Governments Use Tax Dollars to Pay Contract Lobbyists
Prohibiting local governments and government agencies from diverting public funds to these associations would increase transparency and prevent taxpayers’ dollars from funding lobbying harmful to taxpayers.
Backgrounder
Read More: How Pa. Governments Use Tax Dollars to Pay Contract LobbyistsRegulation
Jennifer Stefano on Wake Up America on Newsmax
Commonwealth Foundation's Executive Vice President Jennifer Stefano discusses ongoing supply chain issues on Newsmax's Wake Up America. Topics on this page Newsmax…
Media
Read More: Jennifer Stefano on Wake Up America on NewsmaxState Budget
Op-Ed: Biden’s spending binge makes Americans poorer, just before the holidays
Biden and his allies in Congress need to stop this destructive spending now.
Commentary
Read More: Op-Ed: Biden’s spending binge makes Americans poorer, just before the holidays