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.” 

State Budget

How Big, Bad is Wolf’s Budget?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 6, 2015

The first point of contention on Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget isn’t about his tax increases, or any specific policy item, but rather over the true size of his proposals.

Media

Read More: How Big, Bad is Wolf’s Budget?

Taxes & Economy

Historic Spending and Tax Hikes Will Hurt Pennsylvanians

  • March 5, 2015

Gov. Wolf’s budget proposal expands the size of government and shrinks the size of your wallet. His 2015-2016 budget calls for a net $4.5 billion tax increase, which amounts to …

Media

Read More: Historic Spending and Tax Hikes Will Hurt Pennsylvanians

Taxes & Economy

Wolf’s Crushing $4.6 Billion Tax Increase Largest in Pa History

  • March 3, 2015

For Immediate Release Commonwealth Foundation Contact: 717-671-1901 Wolf’s Crushing $4.6 Billion Tax Increase Largest in Pa History Middle-Class Families Foot the Bill for Massive Tax-and-Spend Plan…

Press Release

Read More: Wolf’s Crushing $4.6 Billion Tax Increase Largest in Pa History

Public Union Democracy

Gov. Wolf Authorizes New Union Money-Grab

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Nathan Benefield
  • March 2, 2015

On Friday, Gov. Tom Wolf issued an executive order that effectively helps SEIU (Service Employees International Union) unionize home health care workers. Many of these workers are simply taking…

Media

Read More: Gov. Wolf Authorizes New Union Money-Grab

Education

Spending More, or Spending More Wisely?

  • James Paul
  • March 2, 2015

When you purchase a good or service—be it a cheeseburger, a pair of shoes, or a car wash—how do you evaluate its quality? Do you consider the outputs—whether the service…

Media

Read More: Spending More, or Spending More Wisely?

Taxes & Economy

Fair Share? How Pennsylvania Gas Taxes Compare

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • March 2, 2015

Pennsylvania is the only top natural gas producing state that doesn’t tax drilling. Sound familiar? It’s a favorite argument of tax proponents, but it misses the big picture. Pennsylvania taxes…

Media

Read More: Fair Share? How Pennsylvania Gas Taxes Compare