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.”
Regulation
5 Facts on the Proposed Nuclear Power Bailout
Should Pennsylvanians pay more for electricity to benefit nuclear power companies? A group of lawmakers are proposing a new category to our renewable energy mandates known as the Alternative…
Media
Read More: 5 Facts on the Proposed Nuclear Power Bailout
West Virginia Leaves Students Without Options
Last month, hundreds of students gathered at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School outside of Pittsburgh to celebrate National School Choice Week. With music, dance acts, and peppy speakers, participants…
Media
Read More: West Virginia Leaves Students Without OptionsEducation
Penn Hills: A (Tragic) Love Story
I’m a Penn Hills guy. I’ve lived in some of the most unique and dynamic places in the nation, yet I’ve never been around as many talented, genuine, and engaging…
Media
Read More: Penn Hills: A (Tragic) Love Story
A New Legislative Solution for Pennsylvania’s Opportunity Gap
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs have offered lifelines to hundreds of thousands of low to moderate-income Pennsylvania students. Yet many thousands more…
Media
Read More: A New Legislative Solution for Pennsylvania’s Opportunity GapTaxes & Economy
Raising Minimum Wage Causes Job Loss
In his 2019 budget address, Governor Wolf lamented “too many hardworking people are struggling to get by.” The solution is attracting high-wage jobs and encouraging more Pennsylvanians to gain valuable…
Media
Read More: Raising Minimum Wage Causes Job LossState Budget
The Taxpayer Protection Act: An Updated Legislator’s Guide
Pennsylvanians pay $4,589 per person in state and local taxes, which equals 10.2 percent of residents’ total income. This trend must be reversed by restraining spending growth through long-term reforms…
Fact Sheet
Read More: The Taxpayer Protection Act: An Updated Legislator’s GuidePublic Union Democracy
Government Union 2018 Election Spending
Pennsylvania’s top government union political action committees spent over $12 million during the 2017-18 election cycle, making it the most expensive election cycle in the past ten years.
Fact Sheet
Read More: Government Union 2018 Election SpendingEducation
A Better Tool for Student Opportunity
As the 2019 legislative session begins, lawmakers need to look beyond talking points and get to the root of problems with education. As Pennsylvania illustrates, more money does not guarantee…
Memo
Read More: A Better Tool for Student OpportunityPublic Union Democracy
A Nurse Took her Union to Court, and Won
Cheryl Spano Lonis is a hard-working nurse from Hartford, Connecticut, who was trapped in her union for three years. The New England Health Care Employees Union disregarded her multiple…
Media
Read More: A Nurse Took her Union to Court, and WonEducation
Struggle for Education Choice in Montana Could Benefit Pa. Students
Montana’s early settlers braved a tough wilderness in search of better lives for their families. Today, Montana families like the Espinozas, Andersons and Schaefers are engaged in another struggle, the…
Media
Read More: Struggle for Education Choice in Montana Could Benefit Pa. StudentsEducation
How to Make Schools Safer
On January 17, students drew blood at John Harris High School in Harrisburg. Over 30 students fought in the cafeteria during lunch. By the fight’s end kids needed medical…
Media
Read More: How to Make Schools SaferPublic Union Democracy
Four Reasons to Notify Public Workers of Their Rights
Until recently, public sector employees (such as state and local government workers, teachers, and public safety officers) could be forced to pay hundreds of dollars in “fair share fees” to…
Media
Read More: Four Reasons to Notify Public Workers of Their Rights
Tax Credit Scholarships Are Worth Their Salt
The Treasury Department recently clarified that businesses contributions to tax credit scholarships are still fully deductible. This is good news for the EITC and OSTC programs—and the students they serve.
Commentary
Read More: Tax Credit Scholarships Are Worth Their SaltTaxes & Economy
Pa. Small Businesses Show Tax Reform is Key to Greater Prosperity
Keystone Clippers has exceeded expectations. Owner Al Rodriguez is now “ahead of the game” due to last year’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He has added…
Media
Read More: Pa. Small Businesses Show Tax Reform is Key to Greater ProsperityState Budget
Wolf’s Budget Rhetoric a Relief, but Doesn’t Match Reality
Charles Mitchell, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, issued the following statement in response to Gov. Wolf’s fifth budget address: What a change four years and nine defeated…
Press Release
Read More: Wolf’s Budget Rhetoric a Relief, but Doesn’t Match RealityState Budget
5 Takeaways from Gov. Wolf’s 2019 Budget
1. Dramatic cost overruns lead to a $86 billion budget. Gov. Wolf proposed a $34.146 billion General Fund budget and a total operating budget of $85.804 billion.
Media
Read More: 5 Takeaways from Gov. Wolf’s 2019 BudgetCriminal Justice Reform
Can Criminal Justice Reform Unite America?
The following op-ed first appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Are partisan division and political bickering unavoidable in American politics? The headlines make it seem so, but it’s not true.
Media
Read More: Can Criminal Justice Reform Unite America?Public Union Democracy
Why There’s “Money in Politics”
The recent public corruption indictment of John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty, leader of the IBEW 98 labor union, Philadelphia City Council member Bobby Henon, and a slew of other IBEW leaders shows…
Media
Read More: Why There’s “Money in Politics”Regulation
New Report Shows Shortcomings of Corporate Welfare
Pennsylvania moviegoers who bought tickets for M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass last weekend paid more than the price of the ticket. They paid with their taxes. According to the Department of…
Media
Read More: New Report Shows Shortcomings of Corporate WelfareEducation
Keep Moving Forward: Philly Students Celebrate Choice
Last week the nation celebrated school choice, with thousands of student-centered events taking place across the United States. On Wednesday, hundreds of yellow-scarved, sign-bearing students from the Philly area…
Media
Read More: Keep Moving Forward: Philly Students Celebrate ChoicePublic Union Democracy
PLCB Keeps Employees in the Dark
Less than one year ago, the Supreme Court declared that public sector workers’ constitutional rights to free speech and association came before government unions’ desire to collect fees from those…
Media
Read More: PLCB Keeps Employees in the Dark