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.”
Education
A New Push for Student-Based Ed Funding?
Despite a history of one-note rhetoric about underfunded schools—and thus pushing for more spending and higher taxes—recent comments indicate Governor Wolf may be open to more nuanced education solutions. In…
Media
Read More: A New Push for Student-Based Ed Funding?Education
School Choice Momentum in Pennsylvania
The Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program established Pennsylvania as a school choice leader when it was introduced in 2001. The program helps thousands of students, but it hasn’t kept…
Media
Read More: School Choice Momentum in PennsylvaniaEducation
What does Janus mean for school choice?
On June 27th, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a historic ruling in Janus v. AFSCME. The 5-4 decision found that forcing public sector workers to pay union fees—or lose their jobs—violates their…
Media
Read More: What does Janus mean for school choice?Criminal Justice Reform
Bipartisan Support for a Second Chance
We all deserve a second chance. This is the core principle underlying “clean slate” legislation, which the legislature overwhelmingly approved last week. The measure, House Bill 1419, sponsored by…
Media
Read More: Bipartisan Support for a Second ChancePublic Union Democracy
Janus v. AFSCME: SCOTUS Upholds Workers’ Rights
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld workers’ rights. In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled in Janus v. AFSCME that forcing public sector workers to pay union fees—or lose their…
Media
Read More: Janus v. AFSCME: SCOTUS Upholds Workers’ RightsPublic Union Democracy
SCOTUS Champions Worker Freedom in Historic Decision
June 27, 2018, Harrisburg, Pa. — For decades, government workers in Pennsylvania and other forced-union states have faced an unjust workplace ultimatum: Pay a union, or lose your job. But with today’s…
Press Release
Read More: SCOTUS Champions Worker Freedom in Historic DecisionHealth Care
Hidden Human Services Spending
What’s the main driver of spending in Harrisburg? It’s not education. The main driver of costs is the Department of Human Services, which includes Medicaid, child services, nursing home care…
Media
Read More: Hidden Human Services SpendingState Budget
State Budget 2018: Policy Victories & Missed Opportunities
With a signed state budget, it’s time to review the policy victories and missed opportunities that define the 2018-19 spending package. Victories Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) expansion: Lawmakers approved…
Media
Read More: State Budget 2018: Policy Victories & Missed OpportunitiesEducation
Students Win Big with Tax Credit Scholarship Boost
The recently enacted state budget includes a $25 million increase in the successful and popular Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. This increase is tremendous for families—given that…
Media
Read More: Students Win Big with Tax Credit Scholarship BoostEducation
Impact of ESAs Under HB 2228
Education is not one-size-fits-all. For children with special needs, this is particularly true. Ann and Tony Zanca of Florida know this first hand. Their 14-year-old son Ben has dealt…
Media
Read More: Impact of ESAs Under HB 2228Regulation
Gov. Moves to Eliminate Handful of Occupational Licenses
Sally Ladd earned a living managing vacation rental properties in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains. Her clients gladly pay Sally to manage their listings, but that livelihood was threatened when the…
Media
Read More: Gov. Moves to Eliminate Handful of Occupational LicensesEducation
Every Child Deserves the Opportunity to Succeed
The Ben Franklin Bridge is all that separates Pennsylvania students from Camden, New Jersey, where families choose from a diverse menu of schools. In 1999, New Jersey enacted the…
Media
Read More: Every Child Deserves the Opportunity to SucceedEducation
House-Passed Spending Plan Holds Line on Taxes
Today, the Pennsylvania House passed a $32.7 billion 2018-19 spending plan in an overwhelming, bipartisan vote (188-10). The legislation, House Bill 2121, avoids tax increases and pulls back from…
Press Release
Read More: House-Passed Spending Plan Holds Line on TaxesState Budget
Six Things to Know About Pa. House Budget
The state budget is on the move. Earlier today the House Appropriations Committee voted to advance a $32.7 billion 2018-19 spending plan to the full House for its consideration. The…
Media
Read More: Six Things to Know About Pa. House BudgetEducation
The Urgent Need for Tax Credit Scholarships
Pennsylvania’s tax credit scholarship programs have helped many students, but thousands of students are turned away each year. Senate Bill 1204 would end the supply problem by allowing tax credit…
Memo
Read More: The Urgent Need for Tax Credit ScholarshipsTaxes & Economy
Dueling Energy Subsidies are Equally Bad
Shortly after Pennsylvania lawmakers suggested subsidies for nuclear power plants, the federal government launched a new effort to subsidize not only nuclear power but other forms of energy…
Media
Read More: Dueling Energy Subsidies are Equally BadState Budget
How Lawmakers Can Revive Pa.’s Economy
A look at job growth and labor force trends over the past few years reveals the Keystone State’s economy to be stagnant or, at best, overshadowed by robust growth in…
Media
Read More: How Lawmakers Can Revive Pa.’s EconomyEducation
New Legislation Tackles the EITC and OSTC Waiting List
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…
Media
Read More: New Legislation Tackles the EITC and OSTC Waiting ListEducation
EITC In Context
Pennsylvania’s Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) provide tax credit scholarships to low and moderate-income students. These scholarships are lifelines for tens of…
Media
Read More: EITC In ContextEducation
Troubling Features of Pa. Teacher Contracts
Union-negotiated collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) dictate the compensation packages and workplace conditions of over 100,000 teachers in Pennsylvania's 500 school districts—regardless of their union membership. As the “exclusive representative” of all teachers…
Media
Read More: Troubling Features of Pa. Teacher ContractsState Budget
PA Legislature Moves to Protect Taxpayers from Habitual Overspending
Today, the Senate State Government Committee took a positive step toward putting Pennsylvania’s finances back on solid ground by passing the Taxpayer Protection Act (TPA) or House Bill 110—sponsored…
Press Release
Read More: PA Legislature Moves to Protect Taxpayers from Habitual Overspending