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.” 

Health Care

Court Ruling Guts Obamacare Subsidies in PA

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 22, 2014

Back in 2012, many laughed at the idea of challenging Obamacare’s individual and employer mandates by arguing that the law as written allows subsidies for insurance in state exchanges only.

Media

Read More: Court Ruling Guts Obamacare Subsidies in PA

Health Care

Court Ruling Guts Obamacare Subsidies in PA

  • July 22, 2014

Contact: John Bouder, 717-671-1901 Individual & Employer Mandates Called into Question in 36 States Pennsylvanians May No Longer Qualify for Subsidies on Obamacare Exchange Good afternoon, Today, the…

Press Release

Read More: Court Ruling Guts Obamacare Subsidies in PA

Regulation

Downgrade Detrimental to Taxpayers

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 22, 2014

For the third time in two years, a major bond rating agency gave Pennsylvania a downgrade. The most recent downgrade, courtesy of Moody’s, has real implications for taxpayers. Moody’s…

Media

Read More: Downgrade Detrimental to Taxpayers

Regulation

Latest Credit Downgrade Hits One-Time Revenues and Pension Inaction

  • July 21, 2014

Contact: John Bouder, 717-671-1901 PA’s ‘Growing Structural Imbalance’ Cited in New Credit Downgrade One-Time Revenue Sources and Unfunded Pension Liabilities the Cause Good afternoon, Today, credit rating…

Press Release

Read More: Latest Credit Downgrade Hits One-Time Revenues and Pension Inaction

Public Union Democracy

Sherlock Investigates: Politics on the Public Dime

  • July 18, 2014

On Tuesday, former House Speakers Bill DeWeese and John Perzel were issued public demerits in the form of gold plaques hung beneath their Capitol portraits. That same day, a…

Media

Read More: Sherlock Investigates: Politics on the Public Dime

Education

Is There a Pension Crisis?

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 18, 2014

PolicyBlog readers will be well-familiar with the fact that Pennsyvlania state funding for public schools is at a record high.  So why do government union leaders and some…

Media

Read More: Is There a Pension Crisis?

Regulation

Budget Shields Taxpayers, but Challenges Remain

  • July 17, 2014

A contentious budget season has officially ended after Governor Corbett signed a $29 billion appropriations bill into law. But is it fiscally responsible? And what’s holding up reforms on the…

Commentary

Read More: Budget Shields Taxpayers, but Challenges Remain

Education

Will Higher Taxes and Funding Save Students?

  • July 16, 2014

Philadelphia is in the midst of a crisis. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, more than 80 percent of 4th and 8th grade students did not reach proficiency in math and…

Media

Read More: Will Higher Taxes and Funding Save Students?

Education

Hope and Success in Opportunity Scholarship Program

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • July 15, 2014

James Cromartie is a 7th grader at the School of Church Farm in Exton, Pa. His mom, Lynne, is grateful for the school’s challenging academics, art, music and athletic programs.

Media

Read More: Hope and Success in Opportunity Scholarship Program

Public Union Democracy

Teachers Unions Putting More Dues Money into Politics

  • Nathan Benefield
  • July 15, 2014

While union leadership continues to repeat the myth that union dues cannot be used for politics, the latest newsletter from the Pennsylvania State Education Assocation again reveals, in small…

Media

Read More: Teachers Unions Putting More Dues Money into Politics

Regulation

Audio: Pension Reform’s Biggest Obstacle

  • July 14, 2014

On Friday, CF President Matt Brouillette joined The David Madeira Show to talk about Pennsylvania’s looming $50 billion public pension crisis and the biggest obstacles to reform: government union leaders.

Media

Read More: Audio: Pension Reform’s Biggest Obstacle