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
Thank you for your input! We'll continue to update you on Pennsylvania's push for liquor reform.
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Liquor Poll – Snack Mix
Thank you for your input! We'll continue to update you on Pennsylvania's push for liquor reform.
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Liquor Poll – Stupid Question
Thank you for your input! We'll continue to update you on Pennsylvania's push for liquor reform.
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Read More: Liquor Poll – Stupid QuestionEducation
Pa. Homeschooling 101: Legal Requirements
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…
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Op-ed: Citizens Take on Pennsylvania’s Public-Sector Unions
Pennsylvania public employees advance free speech two years after the Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME.
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Don’t Forget the “Forgotten Americans” in 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…
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Don’t Forget the “Forgotten Americans” in 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
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…
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This Preacher’s on Probation
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
The variety of businesses in Pennsylvania manage to function despite the state’s business environment, not because of it.
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Pennsylvania’s “Great” Economy
The variety of businesses in Pennsylvania manage to function despite the state’s business environment, not because of it.
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A Responsible State Budget? Only in Your Dreams
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.
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A Responsible State Budget? Only in Your Dreams
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
Read More: A Responsible State Budget? Only in Your Dreams
Protect Taxpayers to Fix the “Brain Drain”
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…
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Protect Taxpayers to Fix the “Brain Drain”
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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2020: Vision to Victory
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…
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2020: Vision to Victory
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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Wolf Reluctantly Gives In On Transparency During Emergencies
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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Public Charter Schools Discounted, Ignored During COVID-19
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
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
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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