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.” 

Public Union Democracy

Teachers Inspire New Legislation

  • Brittney Parker
  • April 28, 2015

No one should be forced to fund political activity that they don’t support. Jane Ladley, a teacher in Chester County, didn’t want her dues money being spent on partisan political…

Media

Read More: Teachers Inspire New Legislation

Teachers Stand Up and Inspire New Legislation

  • Brittney Parker
  • April 28, 2015

No one should be forced to fund political activity that they don’t support. Jane Ladley, a teacher in Chester County, didn’t want her dues money being spent on partisan political…

Media

Read More: Teachers Stand Up and Inspire New Legislation

Who to Believe on Wolf Tax Increase?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 27, 2015

Friday, we pointed out a new Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) study that shows every income group will pay more in net taxes under Gov. Wolf’s proposed budget. In…

Media

Read More: Who to Believe on Wolf Tax Increase?

Taxes & Economy

Pennsylvanians Are Working Longer for the Government

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 27, 2015

Last Saturday Pennsylvanians passed an important milestone: Tax Freedom Day. This is the day Pennsylvanians earn enough dollars to pay off their federal, state and local tax bills for 2015. …

Media

Read More: Pennsylvanians Are Working Longer for the Government

State Budget

IFO: Everyone Pays More Under Wolf Tax Shift

  • Nathan Benefield
  • April 24, 2015

The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released a new analysis of Gov. Wolf’s tax proposals yesterday. What is their most interesting conclusion? Taxpayers in every income bracket will see a net…

Media

Read More: IFO: Everyone Pays More Under Wolf Tax Shift

Regulation

Clarifying Pension Reform Misconceptions

  • April 23, 2015

Pennsylvania’s $50 billion public pension problem isn’t going to solve itself. Reform is a must, which is why Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman has rightly called for structural…

Media

Read More: Clarifying Pension Reform Misconceptions

Health Care

Judge Halts Stealth Unionization Scheme

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • April 23, 2015

A Commonwealth Court judge has issued a preliminary injunction to stop full enforcement of Gov. Tom Wolf's executive order to stealthily unionize home healthcare workers. For folks like…

Media

Read More: Judge Halts Stealth Unionization Scheme

The Families Impacted by Gov. Wolf’s Budget

  • April 23, 2015

“Whether your kid can go to tee ball or even preschool,” Micah Dunn said choking back tears. “We’ve had to make those decisions before, this [tax increase] hits pretty…

Media

Read More: The Families Impacted by Gov. Wolf’s Budget

Community Rallies Around Local Teacher

  • Brittney Parker
  • April 23, 2015

Standing up for your beliefs can be scary—especially when you’re a teacher standing up to the most powerful labor union in Pennsylvania! But that’s exactly what Professor Mary Trometter did…

Media

Read More: Community Rallies Around Local Teacher

Government Accountability

Pro-Taxpayer, Pro-Transparency Bills Move Forward

  • James Paul
  • April 22, 2015

Government union contract negotiations—long shrouded in secrecy behind closed-door meetings—are one step closer to openness and transparency. Today, a series of bills passed the Senate State Government Committee that will…

Media

Read More: Pro-Taxpayer, Pro-Transparency Bills Move Forward

Public Union Democracy

PA is One Step Closer to Outlawing Harassment

  • April 22, 2015

Sarina Rose, VP of Development for Post Brothers Apartments, knows firsthand what its like to be harassed. She was verbally berated and threatened in a Philadelphia restaurant. But because the…

Media

Read More: PA is One Step Closer to Outlawing Harassment

Government Accountability

Bills Shining Light on Secret Contract Talks Advance in Senate

  • April 22, 2015

Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Bills Shining Light on Secret Contract Talks Advance in Senate Openness Sought in Closed-Door Negotiations Costing Billions…

Press Release

Read More: Bills Shining Light on Secret Contract Talks Advance in Senate

State Budget

Taxpayer Protection Act Advances in the Senate

  • James Paul
  • April 21, 2015

In the face of Governor Wolf’s proposed $4.5 billion tax increase, a group of Senate lawmakers are offering an alternate vision for Pennsylvania—one of limited government and…

Media

Read More: Taxpayer Protection Act Advances in the Senate