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.” 

Liquor Poll – Sandwich

  • July 29, 2020

Thank you for your input! We'll continue to update you on Pennsylvania's push for liquor reform.

Media

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Liquor Poll – Snack Mix

  • July 29, 2020

Thank you for your input! We'll continue to update you on Pennsylvania's push for liquor reform.

Media

Read More: Liquor Poll – Snack Mix

Education

Pa. Homeschooling 101: Legal Requirements

  • Colleen Hroncich
  • July 27, 2020

Thinking about homeschooling in Pennsylvania but don’t know where to begin? Here’s what you need to know to get started from education policy expert and homeschool mom Colleen Hroncich. Understanding…

Commentary

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Don’t Forget the “Forgotten Americans” in 2020

  • July 27, 2020

While the Trump administration’s tariffs may temporarily boost business for some suppliers, they bleed American manufacturing jobs and raise costs for consumers. Most alarmingly to many Trump voters, he has…

Commentary

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Don’t Forget the “Forgotten Americans” in 2020

  • Jennifer Stefano
  • July 27, 2020

While the Trump administration’s tariffs may temporarily boost business for some suppliers, they bleed American manufacturing jobs and raise costs for consumers. Most alarmingly to many Trump voters, he has…

Commentary

Read More: Don’t Forget the “Forgotten Americans” in 2020

This Preacher’s on Probation

  • July 27, 2020

Former prisoners like Jon Kelly who have turned their lives around deserve better than empty promises of case-by-case leniency. The constraints on “perpetual probation” in the recently advanced HB 1555…

Commentary

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This Preacher’s on Probation

  • July 27, 2020

Former prisoners like Jon Kelly who have turned their lives around deserve better than empty promises of case-by-case leniency. The constraints on “perpetual probation” in the recently advanced HB 1555…

Commentary

Read More: This Preacher’s on Probation

Pennsylvania’s “Great” Economy

  • July 27, 2020

The variety of businesses in Pennsylvania manage to function despite the state’s business environment, not because of it.

Commentary

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Pennsylvania’s “Great” Economy

  • Tirzah Duren
  • July 27, 2020

The variety of businesses in Pennsylvania manage to function despite the state’s business environment, not because of it.

Commentary

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A Responsible State Budget? Only in Your Dreams

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 27, 2020

We can spend our money smarter through sound policy, and we can make hard budgeting decisions easier for lawmakers by placing real limits on spending.

Commentary

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Protect Taxpayers to Fix the “Brain Drain”

  • July 27, 2020

The Keystone State is 45th in both job growth and income growth since 2001. And we’re the fifth-worst state in which to start a business, according to Wallethub. Why would…

Commentary

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Protect Taxpayers to Fix the “Brain Drain”

  • July 27, 2020

The Keystone State is 45th in both job growth and income growth since 2001. And we’re the fifth-worst state in which to start a business, according to Wallethub. Why would…

Commentary

Read More: Protect Taxpayers to Fix the “Brain Drain”

2020: Vision to Victory

  • July 27, 2020

This year, we’ve set the bar even higher—we want to end waiting lists for tax credit scholarships, introduce auto- matic expansion of the programs, and facilitate legislation that would reform…

Commentary

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2020: Vision to Victory

  • July 27, 2020

This year, we’ve set the bar even higher—we want to end waiting lists for tax credit scholarships, introduce auto- matic expansion of the programs, and facilitate legislation that would reform…

Commentary

Read More: 2020: Vision to Victory

Wolf Reluctantly Gives In On Transparency During Emergencies

  • Michael Torres
  • July 27, 2020

Yesterday, a transparency bill requiring state and local government to continue fulfilling Right-to-Know requests under the Pa. Open Records law during emergency declarations became law without the governor’s signature.

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Education

Public Charter Schools Discounted, Ignored During COVID-19

  • Stefanie Mason
  • July 24, 2020

We were told that school districts and Intermediate Units were the experts on cyber education. We were told they were so great that alternatives, like cyber charter schools, should be eliminated.

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How is Gov. Wolf Handling COVID – Toss-Up

  • July 21, 2020

Thanks for voting! We'll send out the results when the poll ends next week. Further thoughts to share? Let us know! We want to hear how you're doing. Wolf Poll…

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How is Gov. Wolf Handling COVID – Good

  • July 21, 2020

Thanks for voting! We'll send out the results when the poll ends next week. Further thoughts to share? Let us know! We want to hear how you're doing. Wolf Poll…

Media

Read More: How is Gov. Wolf Handling COVID – Good