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.”
Janus and Pennsylvania: A Legal Analysis
How does the constitutional right of free speech for union workers apply in Pennsylvania?…
Commentary
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Introducing Keith Williams and Americans for Fair Treatment
A former schoolteacher comes on board Americans for Fair Treatment…
Commentary
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Introducing Keith Williams and Americans for Fair Treatment
A former schoolteacher comes on board Americans for Fair Treatment…
Commentary
Read More: Introducing Keith Williams and Americans for Fair Treatment
State Budget Misses Key Opportunities
The good, bad, and ugly about this year's budget…
Commentary
Read More: State Budget Misses Key Opportunities
State Budget Misses Key Opportunities
The good, bad, and ugly about this year's budget…
Commentary
Read More: State Budget Misses Key Opportunities
Celebrating a Life Well-Lived
CF announces the Don Kirkland Society…
Commentary
Read More: Celebrating a Life Well-Lived
Celebrating a Life Well-Lived
CF announces the Don Kirkland Society…
Commentary
Read More: Celebrating a Life Well-Lived
Supreme Court Restores Government Workers’ Rights
Nobody should be forced to pay for unions' political activity.
Commentary
Read More: Supreme Court Restores Government Workers’ Rights
Supreme Court Restores Government Workers’ Rights
Nobody should be forced to pay for unions' political activity.
Commentary
Read More: Supreme Court Restores Government Workers’ RightsCriminal Justice Reform
Safe and Smart: Fixing Harsh Life Sentences
In this second blog in our Safe and Smart series, we tackle Pennsylvania’s practice of sentencing offenders to life without parole (LWOP). LWOP is coming under greater scrutiny from people across the…
Media
Read More: Safe and Smart: Fixing Harsh Life SentencesCriminal Justice Reform
Philadelphia Forced to Reform Unjust Confiscation
Four years ago we told you the story of Markela and Chris Sourovelis, Philadelphians who lost their home when their son committed a minor drug crime thanks to an…
Media
Read More: Philadelphia Forced to Reform Unjust ConfiscationEducation
Young Entrepreneurs in Action
It’s rare to see kids voluntarily give up their Saturday to work. But that’s exactly what my 12- and 14-year old daughters—along with a dozen other kids—did at the recent…
Media
Read More: Young Entrepreneurs in ActionPublic Union Democracy
Lawmakers Can Stand Up for Home Care Workers
In early 2015 Governor Wolf issued an executive order unionizing home care workers throughout Pennsylvania, many of whom care for their own relatives. The state Supreme Court recently upheld the order. By…
Media
Read More: Lawmakers Can Stand Up for Home Care WorkersCriminal Justice Reform
Safe and Smart: Restructuring Pa.’s Probation System
CF’s newest policy brief, Safer Communities, Smarter Spending, provides a unique look at the problems in Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system. The commonwealth’s incarceration rate is too high. Its supervision…
Media
Read More: Safe and Smart: Restructuring Pa.’s Probation SystemTaxes & Economy
Where Are Americans Moving?
Millions of people move throughout the United States each year. Some make a home on the next street over. Others move across the country. This is a normal and healthy…
Media
Read More: Where Are Americans Moving?Public Union Democracy
Time to Shed Light on New Workers’ Rights
This Labor Day marks ten weeks since the Supreme Court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME that government employees should not be forced to pay a union or risk losing their…
Media
Read More: Time to Shed Light on New Workers’ RightsCriminal Justice Reform
Safer Communities, Smarter Spending
About 95 percent of those confined to state prison will eventually re-enter society. This is why reformers must focus attention on reducing recidivism and balance "tough on crime" practices of the past…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Safer Communities, Smarter SpendingEducation
More is Not Always Better
In the ongoing school funding case, William Penn School District v. Pennsylvania Department of Education, several school districts are suing the state on the grounds that Pennsylvania has…
Media
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Work Requirements on Tap in Washington and Harrisburg
At the end of this month, the federal farm bill expires. Its replacement—a monolithic piece of legislation—is the subject of significant controversy over strengthening food stamp work requirements for healthy…
Media
Read More: Work Requirements on Tap in Washington and HarrisburgTaxes & Economy
How Pennsylvania Can Transform Its Tax Code
Pennsylvania’s state and local tax structure is an illogical patchwork of punitive and nuisance taxes, administrative inefficiencies, and special interest carveouts. A new report from the Tax Foundation highlights…
Media
Read More: How Pennsylvania Can Transform Its Tax CodePublic Union Democracy
Worker Empowerment Begins with Choice
As Pennsylvanians return to work following Labor Day celebrations, it’s an appropriate time to ask: what does a fair, employee-focused workplace look like? It shouldn’t involve blocking workers’ ability to…
Media
Read More: Worker Empowerment Begins with Choice